Atmosphere
Visibile light cannot escape from the veil of orange smog that covers Titan's surface. The moon's dry cold atmosphere causes a 300 km thick layer of smog to build up. The smog, just like on Earth, forms when sunlight interacts with hydrocarbon molecules.
| Molecule |
Symbol |
Amount |
| Major Constituents |
|
Percent |
| Nitrogen |
N2 |
87-99 |
| Argon |
Ar |
0-6 |
| Methane |
CH4 |
1-6 |
| Minor Constituents |
|
parts per million |
| Hydrogen |
H2 |
2000 |
| Hydrocarbons |
|
Ethane |
C2H6 |
20 |
|
Acetylene |
C2H2 |
4 |
|
Ethylene |
C2H4 |
1 |
|
Propane |
C3H8 |
1 |
|
Methylacetylene |
C3H4 |
0.03 |
|
Diacetylene |
C4H2 |
0.02 |
| Nitrogen Compounds |
|
Hydrogen Cyanide |
HCN |
1 |
|
Cynaogen |
C2N2 |
0.02 |
|
Cyanoacetylene |
HC3N |
0.03 |
|
Acteonitrile |
CH3CN |
0.003 |
| Oxygen Compounds |
|
Carbon Monoxide |
CO |
50 |
|
Carbon Dioxide |
CO2 |
0.01 |
Table indicating the primary constituents of Titan's atmosphere
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Last Update: 15 Feb 2005
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