On Titan, a moon of Saturn, researchers have detected the presence of hydrocarbons, ice and water in the form of an ocean 100 kilometers below the surface of the moon. In addition, scientists suggest that life may exist on Titan, explaining its occurrence by the mixing of water and organic matter in the crater of a fallen comet.
In October 2020, NASA astronomers found in Titan’s atmosphere an extremely rare molecule – cyclopropenylidene, consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms, which can only be reproduced in laboratory conditions under terrestrial conditions. It cannot exist in the atmosphere for a long time, because it soon forms more complex compounds. Therefore, scientists concluded that on Titan the atmosphere in the upper layers is so rarefied that it can preserve such molecules.
Until now, the likelihood of the existence of organic matter on Titan was in question. Fogs and numerous rains were observed on the satellite.