We have at last glimpsed the surface of the fabled world, Titan, Saturn's largest moon and the greatest single expanse of unexplored territory remaining in the Solar System today. Carolyn Porco More Quotes by Carolyn Porco More Quotes From Carolyn Porco Saturn is accompanied by a very large and diverse collection of moons. They range in size from a few kilometers across to as big across as the U.S. Carolyn Porco large collection big size Saturn itself is a giant planet, and there's much to be gained by investigating its meteorology and studying its magnetic field. Carolyn Porco planet studying field saturn It's like there's a pulsating, hidden world, governed by ancient laws and principles, underlying everything around us - from the movements of electrical charges to the motions of the planets - and most people are completely unaware of it. To me, that's a shame. Carolyn Porco everything me people world Titan is Saturn's largest moon, and, until Cassini had arrived, there was the largest single expanse of unexplored terrain that we had remaining in our solar system. Carolyn Porco solar system single moon My work is my life. Carolyn Porco my-life work life Voyager's passage through Saturn's inner system exposed diverse moons with dynamic forces at work. Titan, Saturn's largest moon, whose surface remained invisible through its thick, ubiquitous haze, nonetheless teased observers with hints of a possible ocean of liquid hydrocarbons. Carolyn Porco possible ocean moon work Scientists tend to come in two stripes: those who have tremendous appetite and aptitude for the details, and those who illuminate the big picture. Sagan was definitely in the latter category, and he was profoundly good at it. He made connections that others did not have the intellectual breadth or courage to make. Carolyn Porco picture good details courage The questions that we scientist have about Saturn's rings are the questions that an ordinary person might be moved to ask when first seeing them, you know. What caused them? How did they get there? How long have they been around? How long are they going to last? Carolyn Porco person know you long I'm used to fighting and arguing with males. Carolyn Porco males used fighting arguing Between my participation in Voyager and my role in Cassini, when comes the time, I will die a happy and gratified woman. Carolyn Porco woman die happy time To my mind, most people go through life recoiling from its best parts. They miss the enrichment that just a basic knowledge of the physical world can bring to the most ordinary experiences. Carolyn Porco best life people knowledge In any 'big science' enterprise, like planetary exploration, where you must work in big teams of similarly driven people, it is important also to know how to work alongside others even when they may be your fiercest competitors. Carolyn Porco you work science people Make education more accessible to women - all women, not just Americans. Carolyn Porco more just women education Titan has no liquid water on its surface, and any liquid water beneath its surface is inaccessible to us, as far as we know. It has hydrocarbon lakes, but we don't know of any organisms that could live in those, not at the temperatures that we find on Titan. Any reference to possible life in lakes on the surface of Titan is pure speculation. Carolyn Porco live know water life As far as Europa goes, Europa very likely has an ocean under its surface. In that regard, Europa and Enceladus are on equal par. But on Europa, the ocean is at least several kilometers under the surface, and the moon is bathed in an intense radiation field. Carolyn Porco far equal ocean moon Titan is the one place in our solar system whose geographical and atmospheric diversity and complexity are rivaled only by the Earth's. It's very Earth-like, but it's also very different, which means we have a lot to learn as well as a prayer of understanding what we find. Carolyn Porco place diversity understanding prayer I know that I derive the same kind of spiritual fulfillment from what I do, being a planetary scientist, seeing our exploration of the solar system come to fruition. I get such a spiritual high from it that I don't even see the need for religion. Carolyn Porco see know spiritual religion People gravitate to religion to feel a connection to the underlying meaning of everything. Well, as a scientist, you're always looking for the underlying meaning, and that, to me, is such a spiritual life, I wish people would open themselves up to that wonder. Carolyn Porco me you life religion I did play the guitar and sing; I was in a band called The Estrogens: three females and one very brave guy. Carolyn Porco guitar three brave play I got into astronomy through an interest in religion. Carolyn Porco through astronomy interest religion
