Scientist for a Day

Ramesh Pattar

Grade: 7

School: Pat and Catherine Fowler Middle School

Teacher: Nicole Munoz

City: Plano, Texas

Topic: Titania

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Titania, queen of the fairies, a suitable name for such an intriguing destination. Discovered in 1787 by William Herschel, Titania was a mysterious object in the night sky. I think Titania is the most fascinating moon in the Uranian system, and maybe even the Solar System, since there are many factors that separate it from the other moons. The most alluring possibility is a large subsurface ocean which itself opens endless possibilities in extraterrestrial life, astrobiology and maybe even human colonization.

The idea that we are not alone is captivating enough on its own, but to know that you may have proof of where it might be, takes it to the next level. Astonishingly, the only mission that has ever visited and studied Titania is the Voyager 2, which was in back in 1986. Infrared spectroscopy determined the presence of water ice, frozen carbon dioxide and other essentials of life which is evidence of a water body under the surface of Titania. Also, we have learnt that Titania may have gone through early endogenic resurfacing. Endogenic resurfacing is basically fluid material from below the surface, erupting and hardening on to the old surface, which then creates a whole new layer of crust.

These early eruptions could have happened because of weak points in the crust, caused by impact craters. If we dig deeper into Titania’s surface, then we may find evidence of life or even find living creatures. These discoveries will yield advances to astrobiology that no one would have ever imagined. I think Titania is just a piñata, waiting to be burst open and unleashing all sorts of opportunities for the growth of human society as a whole. This moon is truly the queen of possibilities and I hope we can find the key to unlock its many secrets.