6 infrared images of Saturn's moon Titan are the clearest we've seen

Image: NASA / JPL-Caltech / University of Nantes / Arizona livers

Long live Cassini, who gave the clearest views of Saturn's moon, Titan, to this day.

Six infrared images of Titan were captured by the noble Cassini spacecraft, which, after 13 years of exploration, finally (and unfortunately) burned in the atmosphere of Saturn in September 2017. [19659009] The images are among the clearest views of the moon's surface produced to date. You can spy on Titan's icy surface in incredibly clear detail.

According to NASA, the photographs were created using 13 years of combined data from the Cassini spacecraft, acquired by an onboard instrument called a visual and infrared mapping spectrometer.

On a large number of overflights, VIMS made various observations under different lighting, atmospheric and observational conditions during the Cassini mission, culminating in the six views detailed above. These images are particularly special because previous mapping attempts showed obvious seams between the different areas on Titan's surface – these seams were hand-processed by imaging scientists, a fairly lengthy task.

The images are by far the best representation of how the Titan Globe could appear to the casual observer if it was from the foggy atmosphere of the moon, and it will only be probably not replaced for a while, "says NASA's online statement. The clearest views of Saturn's moon, Titan, surround the moon in its natural color, shrouded in mist. "data-fragment =" m! 6eb4 "data-image =" https://i.amz.mshcdn.com/8fPxVYTdmp8PFY2agwmB4qMHr6c=/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads% 2F2Fcard% 2Fimage% 2F813608% 2F25f717f9-1c6f-426f-9702-90fd50b614cf.jpg "data-micro =" 1 "/>

Titan is not the easiest to photograph either, as the moon is wrapped up According to NASA, this is due to small particles called aerosols in the upper atmosphere of Titan diffusing visible light.The VIMS of Cue Cassini, which used infrared wavelengths to separate the haze and hang these incredibly clear images.

Wondering exactly what you're looking at here? According to the images, scientists have determined that Titan has a fairly complex surface, sporting a myriad of geological features. The team used what is called the "band-ratio" color technique to distinguish areas on the surface of Titan. You can see the equatorial dune fields in brown, and what could be areas enriched with ice in blue and purple.

Since the launch of the Cassini spacecraft in 1997, he has been exploring Saturn and its many moons, including Titan. We arrived in 2004. Although we have unfortunately disappeared, we are still reaping the benefits.