The Ominous Kraken Mare, Titan's Largest Lake, Is Hiding Something Far Deeper Than Scientists Ever Expected
The Daily Galaxy••science
Key Points:
- New analysis of NASA Cassini mission data reveals that Titan’s Kraken Mare, the largest sea on Saturn’s moon, may reach depths of up to 300 metres, significantly deeper than previous estimates.
- Kraken Mare contains about 80 percent of Titan’s surface liquids, primarily methane and ethane, with evidence suggesting a higher ethane concentration in its central regions due to lower methane replenishment.
- Radar signal absorption by ethane-rich liquids limited direct depth measurements, leading researchers to infer deeper areas through signal attenuation, highlighting challenges in remote sensing of Titan’s seas.
- While no direct missions to Kraken Mare are currently funded, NASA has proposed a conceptual submarine mission to autonomously explore the sea’s physical and chemical properties, complementing the
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