Expert: Tom Whiting - 1/17/2005

Question
Hello Tom,
 These recent, ASTOUNDING pics of Titan, especially the ones which shows what appears to be a coast with a lake... why are the resolutions so low?  I'm not really complaining, I assume the idea is that it's better to get low res pics than perhaps have to wait longer for transmission of more detailed pics that may never come due to the Huygens probe failing for whatever reason.  So is that the reason?  The probe sending quick, low data streams to be on the safe side?
But golly, really, my $200 digital camera could take better pics...

Thanks for your time,
Tim  

Answer
Hi Tim,
I'm really not sure...I also was a little disappointed, BUT
I'll offer 3 suggestions why....
1.  First, this is just the raw data, and it has not as yet been
computer processed or computer enhanced .....time
will tell; seems each new piece of data they release is a little
sharper, so give them some time to process it.

2.  Remember this launch was 7 years ago, so they are
using the technology of 1994 or 1995....how was your $200
digital camera back then  at 680  x 450 pixels?
It took 7 years to get to Saturn, whereas the great, high
resolution Mars rovers pictures is much newer technology.

3. I believe the Europeans built Huygens, not the
Americans....perhaps the camera system went to the
lowest bidder on the Euro-Asian continent...perhaps
even FRANCE or Bangledesh built the camera....so giving the bid to a Third world country was not a good idea.  ;-)

Oh, 4th, perhaps the smoggy atmosphere extends right
down to the surface, so the camera is looking thru a partial
fog of atmospheric particles,  and of course, there is no
direct sunlight on the surface so there is very low
contrast...but again, perhaps computer enhancement
may help.
That's all I can think of for now.
Hope all this helps,
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA

For great shots (non-Huygens camera) of my new
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