Because according to scientists, where there's water, there may soon be life. The discovery, announced Tuesday by astronomers at the European Space Agency, was made last December by the ESA's Infrared Space Observatory. According to the ESA scientists, the fluid findings lend support to the idea that conditions on Titan are similar to those of Earth 4.5 billion years ago, when life here began. In fact, ESA scientists speculate, all that may be needed to spark creation on the ringed planet's moon is a little heat. Or, actually, a lot of heat, says Canadian astronomer Terry Dickenson.
Titan has the primordial pot containing all the right stuff for life.
The surface of Titan is minus 180 degrees Celsius. So while Titan contains the same materials the early Earth had, conditions are very different. The wavelengths detected allow scientists at the ISO's ground station in Villafranca, near Madrid, to deduce the presence of different materials. The discovery of water around Titan was deduced from the detection of wavelengths of 39 to 44 microns, the expected signature of water vapour. According to ESA scientists, the discovery is rather remarkable because the atmosphere around Titan is so cold, any water should freeze out.