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Titan's Atmosphere: A Deep Dive Into Titan’s Mysterious Skies

In Titan's Atmosphere: A Deep Dive Into Titan’s Mysterious Skies, Professor Brian Cox explains how Saturn’s moon Titan is unique in that it has an Earth-like atmosphere. Its deep, dense atmosphere is rich in nitrogen and contains methane. Though Titan is small, and therefore has weak gravitational pull, it is able to hold onto its atmosphere because the gases are very cold. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wonders of the Solar System, a spellbinding documentary series that explores the most extreme locations on Earth to explain how the laws of physics carved natural wonders across the Solar System.
Video Details
Grades:
6-89-12
Program:
Wonders of the Solar System
Time:
4:51
Subject:
Science
Topic:
Earth and Space Science

Lesson Express

Q: Why is it surprising that Titan has an atmosphere?
A: Titan is small, so it has weak gravitational pull. This makes it difficult to hold onto gases, but Titan’s atmosphere is dense because it is so cold. The gases are too cold to escape, which helps it maintain its atmosphere.

Q: How does Titan maintain an atmosphere despite its weak gravity?
A: Titan’s distance from the Sun makes it very cold. This cold temperature allows the gases in its atmosphere to stay dense and not float away, even though Titan’s weak gravity would otherwise make it difficult for smaller moons to hold onto such an atmosphere.

Q: What are the key components of Titan's atmosphere, and how are they different from Earth's?
A: Titan’s atmosphere is primarily made up of nitrogen and methane, while Earth’s atmosphere is made up mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. Titan’s atmosphere is much denser and colder than Earth’s, which allows it to hold onto these gases despite its weak gravity.

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