Mystery of Saturn’s moon: huge lakes on surface

The cluster of lakes was spotted near Titan's frigid north pole during a recent flyby by the international Cassini spacecraft, which flew within 590 miles of the moon.

Photo: Mystery of Saturn’s moon: huge lakes on surface

Mystery of Saturn’s moon: huge lakes on surface

Researchers counted about a dozen lakes six miles to 62 miles wide. Some, which appeared as dark patches in radar images, were connected by channels, while others had tributaries flowing into them. Several were dried up, but the ones that contained liquid were most likely a mix of methane and ethane.

Titan is one of two moons in the solar system known to possess a significant atmosphere similar to that of primordial Earth, the AP reports.

But scientists have long puzzled over the source of its hazy atmosphere rich in nitrogen and methan, the AP reports.

Scientists think methane gas breaks up in Titan's atmosphere and forms smog clouds that rain methane down to the surface, according to Huston Chronicle.

But the source of methane inside the moon, which releases the gas into the atmosphere, is still unknown, Lunine said.

Last year, Cassini found what appeared to be a liquid hydrocarbon lake about the size of Lake Ontario on Titan's south pole. But the recent flyby marked the first time the spacecraft spied a multitude of lakes.

Cassini's next Titan encounter will be Sept. 7, when it will be 620 miles away.

Cassini, funded by NASA and the European and Italian space agencies, was launched in 1997.