On January 14th, four weeks after separation with the Cassini spacecraft, the European Space Agency's Huygens probe will enter Titan's atmosphere. Along its several-hour-long journey to the surface, it will collect, along with other data, the sounds of the atmosphere.
What is Huygens' schedule upon entering Titan's atmosphere? *Astrobiologists are waiting with bated-breath for this new, in-depth information about elusive Titan. Thought to be a potential model for early Earth chemistry, Titan is surrounded by a nitrogen- and organics-rich atmospheric haze, and may have "oceans" of liquid hydrocarbons on its surface.
Could there be Life on Titan?
*The NASA Astrobiology Institute's Director's Seminar Series will be hosting Jonathan Lunine from Arizona State University for a web-cast presentation on January 24th to discuss data sent back from the Cassini spacecraft and the Huygens probe.
Information on how to join the webcast and view the slides can be found at: http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/seminars/seminar_detail.cfm?ID=69
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