Huygens probe at Titan. Artwork of the European Space Agency's Huygens probe (upper right) entering the atmosphere and clouds of Titan, the largest mo

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Huygens probe at Titan. Artwork of the European Space Agency's Huygens probe (upper right) entering the atmosphere and clouds of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn (background). This probe was launched from Earth in 1997 as part of the Cassini-Huygens mission. The Huygens probe entered Titan's atmosphere on 14 January 2005 at speeds of 22,000 kilometres per hour, protected by a heat shield reaching temperatures of 1800 degrees Celsius. It then deployed its parachute for a successful landing. The probe transmitted from the surface for 90 minutes. Titan's atmosphere is mainly nitrogen with hydrocarbon clouds.

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Size: 5120px × 3450px
Photo credit: © DAVID DUCROS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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