Titan: Discovery of Carbon Monoxide in Its Atmosphere

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.