Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1774053 | Icarus | 2010 | 5 Pages |
Abstract
Accretional temperature profiles for Saturn’s large moon Titan are used to determine the conditions needed for accretion to avoid global melting as a function of the timing, duration, and nebular conditions of Titan’s accretion. We find that Titan can accrete undifferentiated in a “gas-starved” disk even with modest quantities of ammonia mixed in with its ices. Simulations of impact-induced core formation are used to show that Titan can remain only partially differentiated after an outer Solar System late heavy bombardment capable of melting its outer layers, permitting some of its rock to consolidate into a core.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Space and Planetary Science
Authors
Amy C. Barr, Robert I. Citron, Robin M. Canup,