Home » NASA History: Christiaan Huygens Discovers Saturn’s Moon Titan Over 350 Years Ago

NASA History: Christiaan Huygens Discovers Saturn’s Moon Titan Over 350 Years Ago

By  //  March 27, 2016

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moon discovered on Mar. 25 In 1655

On March 25 in 1655, Christiaan Huygens discovered Saturn's moon Titan. Huygens not only made major breakthroughs in astronomy, but also in optics, physics, and even invented the pendulum clock. (NASA History image)
On March 25 in 1655, Christiaan Huygens discovered Saturn’s moon Titan.
Huygens not only made major breakthroughs in astronomy, but also in optics, physics, and even invented the pendulum clock. (NASA History image)

On March 25 in 1655, Christiaan Huygens discovered Saturn’s moon Titan.

Huygens not only made major breakthroughs in astronomy, but also in optics, physics, and even invented the pendulum clock.

Many argue that, among Huygens’ contemporaries, he was second only to Isaac Newton in scientific greatness.

Titan is a unique place in the solar system. It is the only object, other than Earth, which clearly has stable bodies of liquid on the surface.

These include hydrocarbon lakes, rivers, and seas. It is the largest moon in the solar system.

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Some theories suggest that Titan, with its flowing liquids and carbon-rich environment, could harbor life.

Hypothetical biochemistries have been constructed to support this proposal.

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