タイタン大気中でのソーリン(複雑有機物)の生成とそのアストロバイオロジー的意義

抄録

  Titan is the largest satellite of Saturn, which has dense atmosphere of nitrogen and methane and liquid hydrocarbon lakes on its surface, is one of the most interesting bodies for astrobiologists. A great number of laboratory simulation experiments have been conducted to understand possible chemical evolution pathways occurring in Titan’s atmosphere, and complex organic compounds sometimes referred to as tholins were formed in them. Furthermore, it is suggested that biomolecules such as amino acids could be derived from tholins. In this paper, we reviewed Titan’s organic chemistry observed in Voyager and Cassini-Huygens missions, together with laboratory experiments simulating possible organic reactions in Titan atmosphere and liquidosphere (corresponding to the hydrosphere on Earth), and discuss the possibility of generation of life on Titan.