Saturn's moon Titan is so large it outsizes the planet Mercury, making it the second-biggest moon in the solar system after Jupiter's Ganymede
Saturn's moon Titan is larger in diameter than the planet Mercury, though it is significantly less dense due to its composition of ice and rock. Titan is unique in the solar system for its thick atmosphere and stable surface liquids.
Why it matters
Understanding the physical properties of moons like Titan provides insights into planetary formation and the potential for life in the outer solar system.
The solar system's second-largest moon is bigger than an entire planet, yet weighs a fraction of what it appears.
A moon in our solar system is wider than a planet. Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, is about 5,150 kilometers across. Mercury, a full planet orbiting the Sun in its own right, is smaller than that . The moon wins on width. And yet Mercury is the heavier, denser object by a wide margin. Both things are true at once, and that tension is what makes this worth looking at.
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