Fog at Titan鈥檚 south pole is evidence of the evaporation of liquid methane on the surface and its subsequent condensation into humid air
(Image: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute)
FOG has been spotted on Titan, the first evidence that the Earth isn鈥檛 the only body in the solar system to have a hydrological cycle. Yet Titan鈥檚 cycle is based on methane.
Saturn鈥檚 moon Titan is known to have lakes, clouds and river beds, hinting that surface liquid evaporates and returns as rain. But proof is lacking: the lakes might not evaporate, the clouds might not rain, and the river beds might be relics from a wetter past.
Now Michael Brown of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena and his team have used NASA鈥檚 Cassini spacecraft to view methane fog at Titan鈥檚 south pole. The only explanation is evaporated surface methane condensing into humid air, say the team ().
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