Space exploration in the media

This short exercise is designed to help you reflect on the learning in this activity and
check your understanding.

The exercise is not scored and the results are not recorded. It is just a useful way for
you to make sure you understand any new concepts.

You’ll be asked to provide suggested answers to four questions and will be provided
with standard feedback for each from Julia. Please note, Julia will not view your
responses to the questions.

Question 1:

In her research exercise video, Julia mentioned the moon Triton having an
atmosphere. Do some research on Triton. What is the primary component of Triton’s
atmosphere? How does its atmosphere thickness compare to Titan’s and Earth’s?

Type your answer in the box below and click Ok to continue.*

Question 2:

Why are carbon (C) and nitrogen (N₂) rich planets thought to help support life?*

Question 3:

What does dicyanoacetylene do to the colour of Titan’s atmosphere?*

Question 4:

The surface temperature of Titan is only 94K, but we know that there is an
abundance of methane (CH₄) in Titan’s atmosphere, which should be a strong
greenhouse gas. Why is Titan so cold?*

Educator feedback on page 2

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Educator feedback

Question 1 feedback:

Triton’s atmosphere is made primarily of nitrogen (N₂), as mentioned earlier. It has a

relatively thin atmosphere though, thinner and more tenuous than that of Mars. Titan,
on the other hand, has a denser atmosphere than Earth (about 1.5 times denser).

Question 2 feedback:

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of nitrogen (N₂) and hydrocarbon carbon (C) species
produce complex radicals and molecules that could combine and form amino acids.

Question 3 feedback:

Dicyanoacetylene is one of the molecules responsible for the brownish-orange haze

of Titan’s atmosphere. It is believed that hydrocarbons undergo reactions catalysed
by ultraviolet (UV) light from the Sun. With the abundance of nitrogen (N₂) in the
atmosphere, it is likely that cyano-containing molecules and radicals, and possibly
tholins, are formed, giving Titan’s upper atmosphere a look of thick orange smog.

Question 4 feedback:

There is a combination of competing effects. There is an opaque haze covering

Titan, which is linked to organonitrogens. This efficiently blocks/reflects incoming
radiation. methane (CH₄) in the atmosphere still acts like a greenhouse gas and
helps heat up Titan. If methane (CH₄) or other greenhouse gases were not present,
then Titan would be much colder.

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