This graph shows data acquired by Cassini as it flew by Titan at an
altitude of 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) on Oct. 26, 2004 -- its closet
approach yet to the hazy moon. The data is from Cassini's ion and neutral
mass spectrometer, which detects charged and neutral particles in the
atmosphere. The graph reveals a diversity of hydrocarbons in the high
atmosphere above Titan, including benzene and diacetylene.
The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the
European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet
Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology
in Pasadena, manages the Cassini-Huygens mission for NASA's Science
Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. The Cassini orbiter and its two
onboard cameras were designed, developed and assembled at JPL.
The ion and neutral mass spectrometer team is based at University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
For latest news about the Cassini-Huygens mission visit
http://www.nasa.gov/cassini.
For more information about the mission visit
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov.