{"id":217206,"date":"2025-05-14T22:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/webb\/webbs-titan-forecast-partly-cloudy-with-occasional-methane-showers\/"},"modified":"2025-05-14T22:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T12:00:00","slug":"webbs-titan-forecast-partly-cloudy-with-occasional-methane-showers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=217206","title":{"rendered":"Webb\u2019s Titan Forecast: Partly Cloudy With Occasional Methane Showers"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\" hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\">\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-light hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex 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href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\/for-fun\/\" rel=\"noopener\">For Fun\/Learning<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-article-hero-header nasa-gb-align-full bg-carbon-90 width-full maxw-full color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-hero-header\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full maxw-full minh-tablet grid-container minh-tablet flex-column padding-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper display-flex flex-direction-column\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-y-9 padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-3 z-400\">\n<div class=\"z-400 grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-7 z-400\">\n<div class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"label color-spacesuit-white margin-bottom-2\">7 Min Read<\/div>\n<h1 class=\"heading-41 line-height-md color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWebb\u2019s Titan Forecast: Partly Cloudy With Occasional Methane Showers\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top z-200\"><\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2282\" height=\"1634\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYWSH5DE91CH36QQ4GE3G0-2K.tif?w=2282&#038;h=1634&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"A six-panel graphic with two rows and three columns, showing infrared images of Saturn\u2019s moon Titan. The leftmost images show a mottled globe of brown and yellow with a hazy blue edge. At the top, a white spot that is somewhat faint in the top row image and brighter in the bottom row image. The middle column shows a dark orange globe with a brighter edge. The only features are bright spots near the top and bottom. The top spot is fainter in the top row image and brighter in the bottom row image. The rightmost images also show a dark orange globe with a brighter edge. The top row image is otherwise featureless. The bottom row image, taken three days later, has bright spots near the top and bottom.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 27%; object-position: 50% 27%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"eager\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYWSH5DE91CH36QQ4GE3G0-2K.tif?w=2282&#038;h=1634&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2282w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYWSH5DE91CH36QQ4GE3G0-2K.tif?w=300&#038;h=215&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYWSH5DE91CH36QQ4GE3G0-2K.tif?w=768&#038;h=550&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYWSH5DE91CH36QQ4GE3G0-2K.tif?w=1024&#038;h=733&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYWSH5DE91CH36QQ4GE3G0-2K.tif?w=1536&#038;h=1100&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYWSH5DE91CH36QQ4GE3G0-2K.tif?w=2048&#038;h=1466&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYWSH5DE91CH36QQ4GE3G0-2K.tif?w=400&#038;h=286&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYWSH5DE91CH36QQ4GE3G0-2K.tif?w=600&#038;h=430&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYWSH5DE91CH36QQ4GE3G0-2K.tif?w=900&#038;h=644&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYWSH5DE91CH36QQ4GE3G0-2K.tif?w=1200&#038;h=859&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYWSH5DE91CH36QQ4GE3G0-2K.tif?w=2000&#038;h=1432&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2282px) 100vw, 2282px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-y-3 padding-x-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-x-0\"><figcaption class=\"hds-caption maxw-mobile desktop:padding-x-3\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0 color-carbon-30\">\n<div><figcaption>These images of Titan were taken by NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope on July 11, 2023 (top row) and the ground-based W.M. Keck Observatories on July 14, 2023 (bottom row). They show methane clouds appearing at different altitudes in Titan\u2019s northern hemisphere. Full image and description below.<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Credits: <\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, and W.M. Keck Observatories<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Saturn\u2019s moon Titan is an intriguing world cloaked in a yellowish, smoggy haze. Similar to Earth, the atmosphere is mostly nitrogen and has weather, including clouds and rain. Unlike Earth, whose weather is driven by evaporating and condensing water, frigid Titan has a methane cycle.<\/p>\n<p>NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope, supplemented with images from the Keck II telescope, has for the first time found evidence for cloud convection in Titan\u2019s northern hemisphere, over a region of lakes and seas. Webb also has detected a key carbon-containing molecule that gives insight into the chemical processes in Titan\u2019s complex atmosphere.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Titan\u2019s Weather<\/h2>\n<p>On Titan, methane plays a similar role to water on Earth when it comes to weather. It evaporates from the surface and rises into the atmosphere, where it condenses to form methane clouds. Occasionally it falls as a chilly, oily rain onto a solid surface where water ice is hard as rocks.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTitan is the only other place in our solar system that has weather like Earth, in the sense that it has clouds and rainfall onto a surface,\u201d explained lead author Conor Nixon of NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.<\/p>\n<p>The team observed Titan in November 2022 and July 2023 using both Webb and one of the twin ground-based W.M. Keck Observatories telescopes. Those observations not only showed clouds in the mid and high northern latitudes on Titan \u2013 the hemisphere where it is currently summer \u2013 but also showed those clouds apparently rising to higher altitudes over time. While previous studies have observed cloud convection at southern latitudes, this is the first time evidence for such convection has been seen in the north. This is significant because most of Titan\u2019s lakes and seas are located in its northern hemisphere and evaporation from lakes is a major potential methane source. Their total area is similar to that of the Great Lakes in North America.<\/p>\n<p>On Earth the lowest layer of the atmosphere, or troposphere, extends up to an altitude of about 7 miles (12 kilometers). However, on Titan, whose lower gravity allows the atmospheric layers to expand, the troposphere extends up to about 27 miles (45 kilometers). Webb and Keck used different infrared filters to probe to different depths in Titan\u2019s atmosphere, allowing astronomers to estimate the altitudes of the clouds. The science team observed clouds that appeared to move to higher altitudes over a period of days, although they were not able to directly see any precipitation occurring.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Image A: Titan (Webb and Keck Image)<\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-wide\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYVJBTZ0YRE6SRGPXFA2YT-2K.tif?w=2576&#038;h=1634&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2576\" height=\"1634\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYVJBTZ0YRE6SRGPXFA2YT-2K.tif?w=2576&#038;h=1634&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A six-panel graphic with two rows and three columns, showing infrared images of Saturn\u2019s moon Titan. The top row is labeled \u201cWebb, 11 July 2023\u201d and the bottom row is labeled \u201cKeck, 14 July 2023.\u201d The leftmost images are labeled \u201catmosphere and surface.\u201d They show a mottled globe of brown and yellow with a hazy blue edge. At the top, a white spot that is somewhat faint in the Webb image and brighter in the Keck image has an arrow pointing to it. The middle column is labeled \u201ctroposphere\u201d and shows a dark orange globe with a brighter edge. The only features are bright spots near the top and bottom. The top spot is fainter in the Webb image and brighter in the Keck image, and has an arrow pointing to it. The rightmost images are labeled \u201cstratosphere\u201d and also show a dark orange globe with a brighter edge. The top image from Webb is otherwise featureless. The bottom image from Keck, taken three days later, has bright spots near the top and bottom. The top spot has an arrow pointing to it.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYVJBTZ0YRE6SRGPXFA2YT-2K.tif?w=2576&#038;h=1634&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2576w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYVJBTZ0YRE6SRGPXFA2YT-2K.tif?w=300&#038;h=190&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYVJBTZ0YRE6SRGPXFA2YT-2K.tif?w=768&#038;h=487&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYVJBTZ0YRE6SRGPXFA2YT-2K.tif?w=1024&#038;h=650&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYVJBTZ0YRE6SRGPXFA2YT-2K.tif?w=1536&#038;h=974&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYVJBTZ0YRE6SRGPXFA2YT-2K.tif?w=2048&#038;h=1299&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYVJBTZ0YRE6SRGPXFA2YT-2K.tif?w=400&#038;h=254&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYVJBTZ0YRE6SRGPXFA2YT-2K.tif?w=600&#038;h=381&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYVJBTZ0YRE6SRGPXFA2YT-2K.tif?w=900&#038;h=571&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYVJBTZ0YRE6SRGPXFA2YT-2K.tif?w=1200&#038;h=761&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J5QYVJBTZ0YRE6SRGPXFA2YT-2K.tif?w=2000&#038;h=1269&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2576px) 100vw, 2576px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">These images of Titan were taken by NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope on July 11, 2023 (top row) and the ground-based W.M. Keck Observatories on July 14, 2023 (bottom row). They show methane clouds (denoted by the white arrows) appearing at different altitudes in Titan\u2019s northern hemisphere.<\/p>\n<p>On the left side are representative-color images from both telescopes. In the Webb image light at 1.4 microns is colored blue, 1.5 microns is green, and 2.0 microns is red (filters F140M, F150W, and F200W, respectively). In the Keck image light at 2.13 microns is colored blue, 2.12 microns is green, and 2.06 microns is red (H<sub>2<\/sub> 1-0, Kp, and He1b, respectively).<\/p>\n<p>In the middle column are single-wavelength images taken by Webb and Keck at 2.12 microns. This wavelength is sensitive to emission from Titan\u2019s lower troposphere. The rightmost images show emission at 1.64 microns (Webb) and 2.17 microns (Keck), which favor higher altitudes, in Titan\u2019s upper troposphere and stratosphere (an atmospheric layer above the troposphere). It demonstrates that the clouds are seen at higher altitudes on July 14 than earlier on July 11, indicative of upward motion.<br \/>\u00a0<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, and W.M. Keck Observatories<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Titan\u2019s Chemistry<\/h2>\n<p>Titan is an object of high astrobiological interest due to its complex organic (carbon-containing) chemistry. Organic molecules form the basis of all life on Earth, and studying them on a world like Titan may help scientists understand the processes that led to the origin of life on Earth.<\/p>\n<p>The basic ingredient that drives much of Titan\u2019s chemistry is methane, or CH<sub>4<\/sub>. Methane in Titan\u2019s atmosphere gets split apart by sunlight or energetic electrons from Saturn\u2019s magnetosphere, and then recombines with other molecules to make substances like ethane (C<sub>2<\/sub>H<sub>6<\/sub>) along with more complex carbon-bearing molecules.<\/p>\n<p>Webb\u2019s data provided a key missing piece for our understanding of the chemical processes: a definitive detection of the methyl radical CH<sub>3<\/sub>. This molecule (called \u201cradical\u201d because it has a \u201cfree\u201d electron that is not in a chemical bond) forms when methane is broken apart. Detecting this substance means that scientists can see chemistry in action on Titan for the first time, rather than just the starting ingredients and the end products.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor the first time we can see the chemical cake while it\u2019s rising in the oven, instead of just the starting ingredients of flour and sugar, and then the final, iced cake,\u201d said co-author Stefanie Milam of the Goddard Space Flight Center.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Image B: Chemistry in Titan\u2019s Atmosphere<\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-wide\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J4SBEXZAGPZ9QBEAMVJSFHB8-4K.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2574&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"3840\" height=\"2574\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J4SBEXZAGPZ9QBEAMVJSFHB8-4K.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2574&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A four-panel infographic. The first three panels show the curved edge of an indistinct orange sphere on the bottom, implying the moon Titan, while the top of the image is dark to represent space. The fourth panel shows an illustration of Titan\u2019s surface with a large, dark lake. 1)\tBall-and-stick diagrams show molecules of nitrogen (N2) and methane (CH4). 2)\tFrom above, wiggly white lines labeled \u201celectron\u201d and \u201cphoton\u201d drop down and intersect methane molecules that have been broken up into hydrogen atoms and the methyl radical (CH3). 3)\tA plus sign between two methyl radicals represents a chemical reaction, with a down arrow pointing to a ball-and-stick diagram of ethane (C2H6). 4)\tA large droplet containing methane and ethane is shown raining down toward the surface of Titan.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J4SBEXZAGPZ9QBEAMVJSFHB8-4K.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2574&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 3840w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J4SBEXZAGPZ9QBEAMVJSFHB8-4K.jpg?w=300&#038;h=201&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J4SBEXZAGPZ9QBEAMVJSFHB8-4K.jpg?w=768&#038;h=515&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J4SBEXZAGPZ9QBEAMVJSFHB8-4K.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=686&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J4SBEXZAGPZ9QBEAMVJSFHB8-4K.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=1030&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J4SBEXZAGPZ9QBEAMVJSFHB8-4K.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=1373&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J4SBEXZAGPZ9QBEAMVJSFHB8-4K.jpg?w=400&#038;h=268&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J4SBEXZAGPZ9QBEAMVJSFHB8-4K.jpg?w=600&#038;h=402&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J4SBEXZAGPZ9QBEAMVJSFHB8-4K.jpg?w=900&#038;h=603&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J4SBEXZAGPZ9QBEAMVJSFHB8-4K.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=804&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2025\/webb-STScI-01J4SBEXZAGPZ9QBEAMVJSFHB8-4K.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=1341&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3840px) 100vw, 3840px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">This four-panel infographic demonstrates a key chemical process believed to occur in the atmosphere of Saturn\u2019s moon Titan. <br \/>1. Titan has a thick, nitrogen (N<sub>2<\/sub>) atmosphere that also contains methane (CH<sub>4<\/sub>). <br \/>2. Molecules known as methyl radicals (CH<sub>3<\/sub>) form when methane is broken apart by sunlight or energetic electrons from Saturn\u2019s magnetosphere. <br \/>3. It then recombines with other molecules or with itself to make substances like ethane (C<sub>2<\/sub>H<sub>6<\/sub>). <br \/>4. Methane, ethane, and other molecules condense and rain out of the atmosphere, forming lakes and seas on Titan\u2019s surface. NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope detected the methyl radical on Titan for the first time, providing a key missing piece for our understanding of Titan\u2019s chemical processes.<br \/>\u00a0<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA, ESA, CSA, and Elizabeth Wheatley (STScI)<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Future of Titan\u2019s Atmosphere<\/h2>\n<p>This hydrocarbon chemistry has long-term implications for the future of Titan. When methane is broken apart in the upper atmosphere, some of it recombines to make other molecules that eventually end up on Titan\u2019s surface in one chemical form or another, while some hydrogen escapes from the atmosphere. As a result, methane will be depleted over time, unless there is some source to replenish it.<\/p>\n<p>A similar process occurred on Mars, where water molecules were broken up and the resulting hydrogen lost to space. The result was the dry, desert planet we see today.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn Titan, methane is a consumable. It\u2019s possible that it is being constantly resupplied and fizzing out of the crust and interior over billions of years. If not, eventually it will all be gone and Titan will become a mostly airless world of dust and dunes,\u201d said Nixon.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Video: Webb Spies Rain Clouds, New Molecule on Titan<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Webb Spies Rain Clouds, New Molecule on Titan\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rRJ7Jhun12I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Of all the alien worlds in our solar system, one in particular resembles our home planet. Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, is the only other place we know of where you could walk along the seashore or stand in the rain. However, Titan\u2019s exotic seas and its oily raindrops are not made of water, but of the natural gases methane and ethane, super-chilled into liquid form. Now, NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope has revealed a crucial, missing step in how ethane is formed, and its discovery could tell us about the future of Titan\u2019s atmosphere.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Credit: NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center. Producer\/Editor: Dan Gallagher. Lead Scientist\/Narrator: Conor Nixon. Lead Animator: Jenny McElligott. Lead Visualizer: Andrew J Christensen. Scientist: Nicholas Lombardo. Animator\/Art Director: Michael Lentz. Animation Lead: Walt Feimer. Animators: Jonathan North, Wes Buchanan, Kim Dongjae, Chris Meaney, Adriana Manrique Gutierrez. Data Visualizers: Mark SubbaRao, Kel Elkins, Ernie Wright. Data Provider: Juan Lora. Executive Producer: Wade Sisler. Social Media Support: Kathryn Mersmann. Public Affairs: Laura Betz.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Complementing the Dragonfly Mission<\/h2>\n<p>More of Titan\u2019s mysteries will be probed by NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/dragonfly\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Dragonfly mission<\/a>, a robotic rotorcraft scheduled to land on Saturn\u2019s moon in 2034. Making multiple flights, Dragonfly will explore a variety of locations. Its in-depth investigations will complement Webb\u2019s global perspective.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBy combining all of these resources, including Webb, NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope, and ground-based observatories, we maintain continuity between the former Cassini\/Huygens mission to Saturn and the upcoming Dragonfly mission,\u201d added Heidi Hammel, vice president of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy and a Webb Interdisciplinary Scientist.<\/p>\n<p>This data was taken as part of Hammel\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stsci.edu\/jwst\/science-execution\/approved-programs\/guaranteed-time-observations\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Guaranteed Time Observations<\/a> program to study the Solar System. The results were published in the journal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41550-025-02537-3\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nature Astronomy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The James Webb Space Telescope is the world\u2019s premier space science observatory. Webb is solving mysteries in our solar system, looking beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probing the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency).<\/p>\n<p>To learn more about Webb, visit:<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/webb\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/webb<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-downloads\">Downloads<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Click any image to open a larger version.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/webbtelescope.org\/contents\/news-releases\/2025\/news-2025-122#section-id-2\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">View\/Download all image products at all resolutions<\/a><\/strong> for this article from the Space Telescope Science Institute.<\/p>\n<p><strong>View\/Download the research results<\/strong>\u00a0from the journal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41550-025-02537-3\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Nature Astronomy<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-media-contacts\">Media Contacts<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Laura\u00a0Betz<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:laura.e.betz@nasa.gov\">laura.e.betz@nasa.gov<\/a><br \/>NASA\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/goddard\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Goddard Space Flight Center<\/a>, Greenbelt, Md.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Christine Pulliam<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"mailto:cpulliam@stsci.edu\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cpulliam@stsci.edu<\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stsci.edu\/\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Space Telescope Science Institute<\/a>, Baltimore, Md.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Science<\/h2>\n<p>Conor Nixon (NASA-GSFC), Heidi Hammel (AURA)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-related-information\">Related Information<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Learn more<\/strong> about <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/saturn\/moons\/titan\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Titan<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\/nirspec\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Webb\u2019s Near-infrared Spectrograph<\/a> (NIRSpec)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Webb Blog:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/blogs\/webb\/2022\/12\/01\/webb-keck-telescopes-team-up-to-track-clouds-on-saturns-moon-titan\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Webb, Keck Telescopes Team Up to Track Clouds on Saturn\u2019s Moon Titan<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\/latestnews\/\" rel=\"noopener\">More Webb News<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\/multimedia\/images\/\" rel=\"noopener\">More Webb Images<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\/science-overview\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Webb Science Themes<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Webb Mission Page<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-related-for-kids\">Related For Kids<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/spaceplace.nasa.gov\/james-webb-space-telescope\/en\/\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>What is the Webb Telescope?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/spaceplace.nasa.gov\/\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>SpacePlace for Kids<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-en-espanol\">En Espa\u00f1ol<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ciencia.nasa.gov\/\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Ciencia de la NASA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/es\/\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>NASA en espa\u00f1ol\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/spaceplace.nasa.gov\/sp\/\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Space Place\u00a0para ni\u00f1os<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Related Topics<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/james-webb-space-telescope\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>James Webb Space Telescope<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Webb is the premier observatory of the next decade, serving thousands of astronomers worldwide. It studies every phase in the\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"890\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/main-image-star-forming-region-carina-nircam-final-5mb-1-jpeg.webp?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/main-image-star-forming-region-carina-nircam-final-5mb-1-jpeg.webp 3600w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/main-image-star-forming-region-carina-nircam-final-5mb-1-jpeg.webp?resize=300,174 300w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/main-image-star-forming-region-carina-nircam-final-5mb-1-jpeg.webp?resize=768,445 768w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/main-image-star-forming-region-carina-nircam-final-5mb-1-jpeg.webp?resize=1024,593 1024w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/main-image-star-forming-region-carina-nircam-final-5mb-1-jpeg.webp?resize=1536,890 1536w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/main-image-star-forming-region-carina-nircam-final-5mb-1-jpeg.webp?resize=2048,1186 2048w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/main-image-star-forming-region-carina-nircam-final-5mb-1-jpeg.webp?resize=400,232 400w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/main-image-star-forming-region-carina-nircam-final-5mb-1-jpeg.webp?resize=600,348 600w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/main-image-star-forming-region-carina-nircam-final-5mb-1-jpeg.webp?resize=900,521 900w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/main-image-star-forming-region-carina-nircam-final-5mb-1-jpeg.webp?resize=1200,695 1200w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/main-image-star-forming-region-carina-nircam-final-5mb-1-jpeg.webp?resize=2000,1158 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/cassini\/science\/titan\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Titan<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/internal_resources\/1939\/cassini_banner_final.jpg?w=1600&#038;h=500&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/solar-system\/resources\/resource-packages\/saturn-and-titan-resources\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Saturn and Titan Resources<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">This page showcases our resources for those interested in learning more about Saturn and Titan.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1198\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/06\/682400main_pia14922_full_full.jpg?w=1280&#038;h=1198&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/dragonfly\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Dragonfly<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"973\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dragonfly-inflight.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dragonfly-inflight.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dragonfly-inflight.jpg?resize=300,190 300w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dragonfly-inflight.jpg?resize=768,486 768w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dragonfly-inflight.jpg?resize=1024,649 1024w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dragonfly-inflight.jpg?resize=1536,973 1536w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dragonfly-inflight.jpg?resize=2048,1297 2048w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dragonfly-inflight.jpg?resize=400,253 400w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dragonfly-inflight.jpg?resize=600,380 600w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dragonfly-inflight.jpg?resize=900,570 900w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dragonfly-inflight.jpg?resize=1200,760 1200w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dragonfly-inflight.jpg?resize=2000,1267 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-round\">\n<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-x\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/tweet?via=NASA&#038;text=Webb%E2%80%99s%20Titan%20Forecast%3A%20Partly%20Cloudy%20With%20Occasional%20Methane%20Showers&#038;%23038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fscience.nasa.gov%2Fmissions%2Fwebb%2Fwebbs-titan-forecast-partly-cloudy-with-occasional-methane-showers%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on X.\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"1200\" height=\"1227\" viewBox=\"0 0 1200 1227\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M714.163 519.284L1160.89 0H1055.03L667.137 450.887L357.328 0H0L468.492 681.821L0 1226.37H105.866L515.491 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0c0-228-188-416-416-416V132c285 0 520 235 520 520z\"\/><circle cx=\"219\" cy=\"581\" r=\"71\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\">May 14, 2025<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Editor<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Marty McCoy<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Contact<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-3\">\n<div>Laura Betz<\/div>\n<div><a href=\"mailto:laura.e.betz@nasa.gov\">laura.e.betz@nasa.gov<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"article-tags\">\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\" rel=\"noopener\">James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/astrophysics\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Astrophysics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/goddard\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Goddard Space Flight Center<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/solar-system\/planets\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Planets<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/saturn\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Saturn<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/saturn\/moons\/facts\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Saturn Moons<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Science &#038; Research<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/solar-system\/\" rel=\"noopener\">The Solar System<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/saturn\/moons\/titan\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Titan<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Saturn\u2019s moon Titan is an intriguing world cloaked in a yellowish, smoggy haze. Similar to Earth, the atmosphere is mostly nitrogen and has weather, including clouds and rain. Unlike Earth, whose weather is driven by evaporating and condensing water, frigid Titan has a methane cycle. NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope, supplemented with images from the [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":1,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15612,15614,15637,15918,16726,16727,15597,15610,16728],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-217206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-astrophysics","category-goddard-space-flight-center","category-james-webb-space-telescope-jwst","category-planets","category-saturn","category-saturn-moons","category-science-research","category-the-solar-system","category-titan"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/217206","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=217206"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/217206\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":217337,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/217206\/revisions\/217337"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=217206"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=217206"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=217206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}