Characterizing Evaporites on Titan Using an Experimental Chamber
Abstract
This work provide saturation values, evaporation rates, and constraints on evaporite formation by using a Titan simulation chamber that produces Titan surface conditions (89-94 K, 1.5 bar). Experimental samples were analyzed using FTIR spectroscopy, mass, temperature, and visual readings. Our experiments show that ethylene evaporites formed more quickly in a methane solvent than an ethane solvent, or a mixture of methane/ethane. Additionally, we observed red shifts in ethylene absorption bands at 1.630 and 2.121 microns and the persistence of a methane band at 1.666 microns. Understanding the laboratory context of Titan's evaporites helps us better understand the chemical composition of Titan's lakes and can help unlock these mysteries for future exploration.
- Publication:
-
EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019
- Pub Date:
- September 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019EPSC...13.1132C