Title:

Highlights from Cassini-Huygens: New perspectives on Saturn and Titan




Toby Owen
Institute for Astronomy






Abstract:


This talk will be a selective bouquet from the rich harvest of new
results obtained by Cassini-Huygens.  I will report on measurements
of atmospheric composition and isotope ratios on Saturn and show how
they constrain models for giant planet formation.  The success of the
Huygens probe into Titan's atmosphere has revealed a new world,
strangely Earth-like, with methane playing the role of water, low
temperature ice substituting for rock, and precipitated organic
aerosols taking the place of dirt. Streams of liquid methane course
over the icy bedrock of a world nearly frozen in time shortly after
its formation. The origin and evolution of Titan's nitrogen-methane
atmosphere have much to tell us about the early Earth