[How to Live on Titan (Infographic)]. Saturn's moons Titan and Enceladus, however, might be better choices. Titan has a dense atmosphere of 95 percent nitrogen and 5 percent methane at 1.5 times the air pressure on Earth. The sky on Titan is a perpetual hazy orange during the day (Titan's day is about 16 Earth days). (Image: © NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute). Visit our corporate site. And whether you lived on Titan or Enceladus, life could get lonely — a message sent home would take at least 1 hour and 20 minutes. It has lakes of liquid methane, and even weather. Space is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? A NASA engineer claimed Saturn’s moon Titan could be a home for humans at some point during a Reddit Q&A last week. In terms of pressure, standing on the surface of the moon would feel similar to resting at the bottom of a pool on Earth. Express. If you lived on the side of the moon permanently facing Saturn, you could see the massive planet through the haze. © Follow Joseph Castro on Twitter. Thank you for signing up to Space. (Image credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute). Titan's thick clouds occasionally rain … It would be a long time until we send humans there, but right now, NASA is working on a TSSM (Titan Saturn System Mission), which was stated for a 2020 launch. In all, this region produces about 15.8 gigawatts of heat-generated power, which is roughly equivalent to the output of 20 coal-fired power plants. If you were living near the tiger stripes, you'd probably want to drill into the ice and explore the ocean for signs of life, Spilker said. Saturn's other moons would probably be mere dots in the sky, as would the sun. Titan is probably the least inhospitable place in the outer solar system, but remember to bring oxygen and warm clothing. Titan is the only moon in our solar system with a dense atmosphere and thick cloud cover. Titan’s atmosphere is unbreathable, but if you were standing on Titan you would not need a pressurized space suit, only a breathing mask and protection from the cold. [See amazing photos of Titan]. And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com. But the moon's tiny gravity (just 1 percent of Earth's) would make walking between these features a bit difficult. Without a solid surface, Saturn isn't likely a place we could ever live. In the early 1980s, the Voyager 1 spacecraft analyzed Titan's atmosphere and determined its composition (about 95 percent nitrogen and 5 percent methane), pressure (1.5 times Earth's atmospheric pressure) and temperature (minus 290 degrees F, o]r minus 179 C). During the moon's long summer (Saturn takes 30 years to orbit the sun), its polar regions experience "Texaslike thunderstorms," McKay said. Thank you for signing up to Space. Visit our corporate site. With formations that are only several hundreds of yards high, "you're not going to set records climbing mountains on Titan," McKay said. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. The best location for a base on Enceladus would be close to its "tiger stripes," which are cracks in the surface at the moon's south pole. © There was a problem. Titan's thick clouds occasionally rain down liquid methane. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, But the gas giant does have numerous moons, some of which would make fascinating locations for space colonies, particularly Titan and Enceladus. There was a problem. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, Titan's surface is covered with dunes and rocks of water ice, and the moon has networks of methane lakes, rivers and seas concentrated at its poles. Get breaking space news and the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more! Despite its diminutive size, the moon has several different types of terrain to see, including craters up to 22 miles (35 km) across, plains and ridges. But aside from these features, Titan is pretty flat, and lacks the numerous craters and giant mountains seen elsewhere in the solar system. It has lakes of liquid methane, and even weather. Titan has no water, but some scientists wonder if life based on methane might live on Titan. You will receive a verification email shortly. Saturn's icy moon Enceladus is home to many icy geysers at its south pole as seen in this view from NASA's Cassini spacecraft on Nov. 30, 2010. Titan, the cloudy moon of Saturn, is one of the least hostile places (for humans) in the outer solar system. giant fissures spew plumes of frozen ice particles, China's Chang'e 5 enters lunar orbit for historic attempt to return moon samples, The best Cyber Monday deals on Orion telescopes and binoculars, The Celestron Ambassador 80AZ Brass Telescope is now just $899 this holiday, Physicists could do the 'impossible': Create and destroy magnetic fields from afar, The best Cyber Monday deals on Sky-Watcher telescopes and binoculars. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute). New York, However, the moon doesn't have any tornadoes or other cyclones. [Photos of Enceladus, Saturn's Ice Moon]. If you lived on Titan, you wouldn't need a pressurized suit to survive; all you'd really need is an oxygen mask and very warm clothing, McKay said. Saturn's icy moon Enceladus is seen with Titan, the largest Saturnian satellite, in the background in this view from NASA's Cassini spacecraft captured on Feb. 5, 2006. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? Living on Titan, you'd also be safe from cosmic rays and moonquakes. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. The moon's icy surface reflects most sunlight, resulting in temperatures averaging minus 330 F (minus 201 C) throughout the day (1.4 Earth days). New York, NY 10036. 10°C. Please refresh the page and try again. Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more!