Titan's haze at opposite seasons from HST-STIS spectroscopy

We present an analysis of three new image cubes of Titan by the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph taken in 2017, 2018, and 2019, half a Titan year after previously analyzed image cubes. Both data sets probe periods when Titan's seasonal north-south-asymmetry switched. The new observations show that the new reversal came exactly half a Titan year after the previous opposite reversal. On the other hand, the phase lag of the reversals with respect to Titan's equinoxes was different indicating that the seasonal variation is close to harmonic and does not follow variations due to Saturn's orbital eccentricity. The reversal had two components, a major one at altitudes below 80 km reversing two years after a minor one above 150 km. The observations further revealed small temporary deviations of <10% of the seasonal amplitude. The new observations provide an improved seasonal model of Titan that gives accurate constraints for future global circulation models.

Automated summary

An analysis of three new image cubes of Titan by the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph reveals that Titan's seasonal variation is close to harmonic and not influenced by variations due to Saturn's orbital eccentricity. The reversal consists of two components, with small temporary deviations observed. These new observations provide an improved seasonal model that will help in future global circulation models of Titan.