Methanatmosphären

Methanatmosphären are atmospheres on celestial bodies that are primarily composed of methane. While Earth's atmosphere contains a small percentage of methane, the term "methanatmosphären" typically refers to planets or moons where methane is a dominant atmospheric gas. The most well-known example of a planet with a substantial methane atmosphere is Saturn's moon Titan. Titan's thick atmosphere, about 1.5 times denser than Earth's at sea level, is composed of approximately 95% nitrogen and 5% methane. This methane is responsible for Titan's hazy, orange appearance and plays a crucial role in its weather systems, including methane clouds and rain. The chemical processes occurring in Titan's methane atmosphere, driven by sunlight and Saturn's magnetosphere, lead to the formation of complex organic molecules, creating a unique prebiotic environment. Other celestial bodies, such as Neptune and Uranus, also have atmospheres with significant amounts of methane, though these are often referred to as hydrogen-helium atmospheres with methane as a secondary component. The presence of methane in an atmosphere can influence its temperature, pressure, and color, and it is a key indicator in the search for extraterrestrial life, as methane can be produced by biological processes.