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Titan's rotation reveals an internal ocean and changing zonal winds

March 21, 2008

Cassini radar observations of Saturn's moon Titan over several years show that its rotational period is changing and is different from its orbital period. The present-day rotation period difference from synchronous spin leads to a shift of ∼0.36° per year in apparent longitude and is consistent with seasonal exchange of angular momentum between the surface and Titan's dense superrotating atmosphere, but only if Titan's crust is decoupled from the core by an internal water ocean like that on Europa.

Publication Year 2008
Title Titan's rotation reveals an internal ocean and changing zonal winds
DOI 10.1126/science.1151639
Authors Ralph D. Lorenz, Bryan W. Stiles, Randolph L. Kirk, Michael D. Allison, Paolo Persi del Marmo, Luciano Iess, Jonathan I. Lunine, Steven J. Ostro, Scott Hensley
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Science
Index ID 70201204
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Astrogeology Science Center