Titan Surface - first color image

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Titan Surface - first color image
Titan Surface - first color image

This is the first color image returned from the surface of Titan by the European Space Agency's Huygens probe.This is the colored view, following processing to add reflection spectra data, and gives a better indication of the actual color of the surface.

Initially thought to be rocks or ice blocks, the surface features seen here are more pebble-sized. The two rock-like objects just below the middle of the image are about 15 cm (about 6 inches) (left) and 4 cm (about 1.5 inches) (center) across respectively, at a distance of about 85 cm (about 33 inches) from Huygens. The surface is darker than originally expected, consisting of a mixture of water and hydrocarbon ice. There is also evidence of erosion at the base of these objects, indicating possible fluvial activity.

The image was taken with the Descent Imager/Spectral Radiometer, one of two NASA instruments on the probe.

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Credit: ESA/NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Image Number: PIA07232
Date: January 14, 2005

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Taken on: January 14, 2005
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