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These are images of Saturn\u2019s moon Titan, captured by the NASA\/ESA\/CSA James Webb Space Telescope<\/a>\u2019s NIRCam instrument on 4 November 2022. The image on the left uses a filter sensitive to Titan\u2019s lower atmosphere. The bright spots are prominent clouds in the northern hemisphere. The image on the right is a color composite image. Click here for an annotated version of this image.<\/a><\/p>\n Titan is the only moon in the Solar System with a dense atmosphere, and it is also the only planetary body other than Earth that currently has rivers, lakes, and seas. Unlike Earth, however, the liquid on Titan\u2019s surface is composed of hydrocarbons including methane and ethane, not water. Its atmosphere is filled with thick haze that obscures visible light reflecting off the surface.<\/p>\n Scientists have waited for years to use Webb\u2019s infrared vision to study Titan\u2019s atmosphere, including its fascinating weather patterns and gaseous composition, and also see through the haze to study albedo features (bright and dark patches) on the surface. Further Titan data are expected from\u00a0NIRCam<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0NIRSpec<\/a>\u00a0as well as the first data from Webb\u2019s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI<\/a>) in May or June of 2023.\u00a0The MIRI data will reveal an even greater part of Titan\u2019s spectrum, including some wavelengths that have never before been seen. This will give scientists information about the complex gases in Titan\u2019s atmosphere, as well as crucial clues to deciphering why Titan is the only moon in the Solar System with a dense atmosphere.<\/p>\n [Image Description<\/i>: Side-by-side images of Saturn\u2019s moon Titan, captured by Webb\u2019s Near-Infrared Camera on 4 November 2022, with clouds and other features visible. Left image is various shades of red. Right image is shades of white, blue, and brown.]<\/p>\n Note: This post highlights data from Webb science in progress, which has not yet been through the\u00a0peer-review process<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n