Titan: discovery of carbon monoxide in its atmosphere

Science. 1983 Jun 24;220(4604):1374-5. doi: 10.1126/science.220.4604.1374.

Abstract

The 3-0 rotation-vibration band of carbon monoxide in the near-infrared spectrum of Titan has been identified, and a reflecting layer model mixing ratio of carbon monoxide to molecular nitrogen of 6 x 10(-5) has been determined. This result supports the probable detection of carbon dioxide by Samuelson and his co-workers and strengthens possible analogies between the atmosphere of Titan and conditions on primitive Earth.