Something is absorbing light on the surfaces of Pluto and Saturn’s moon Titan, and figuring out what it is could be crucial to understanding Titan’s complex chemistry
Something is absorbing light on the surfaces of Pluto and Saturn’s moon Titan, and figuring out what it is could be crucial to understanding Titan’s complex chemistry
By Leah Crane
19 June 2026
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Something on Pluto and one of Saturn’s moons, Titan, absorbs light in a way unexplained by anything in spectroscopic databases.
Whatever it is, it's nothing registered in our chemical database, researchers say.
Molecule present on surface of both worlds is causing an unusual light absorption effect
"It's always exciting when you discover something that was not seen before. It's really the nicest part of our job."
Two worlds at almost opposite ends of the Solar System have just given us a mystery we didn't even know existed.
A rejtélyes molekula a Szaturnusz egyik holdján is jelen van.
