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Hubble Discovers Mysterious Ten-Sided Weather Pattern at Saturn's South Pole
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have identified a massive ten-sided atmospheric pattern circling Saturn's south pole, roughly 104,000 miles wide, marking the first large polygon-shaped jet stream observed in the planet's southern hemisphere.
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Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have discovered a massive ten-sided atmospheric feature encircling Saturn's south pole, spanning roughly 104,250 miles across, or about 10,425 miles per side, according to findings published in the journal Science Advances. It marks the first large polygon-shaped jet stream pattern observed in Saturn's southern hemisphere, a striking counterpart to the famous hexagonal jet stream that has circled the planet's north pole for decades.
Researchers said the decagon appears to have begun emerging gradually over the past several years, based on a review of Hubble observations dating back to 2023. Scientists believe these polygonal atmospheric patterns form from complex interactions between fast-moving jet streams at different latitudes, though the underlying dynamics that determine the exact number of sides remain an active area of study. The discovery adds to a growing picture of Saturn's atmosphere as one of the most dynamic and geometrically unusual in the solar system.
Key facts
- Hubble discovered a ten-sided atmospheric pattern circling Saturn's south pole, about 104,250 miles across
- It is the first large polygon-shaped jet stream observed in Saturn's southern hemisphere
- It is a counterpart to Saturn's well-known hexagonal jet stream at the north pole
- The pattern appears to have gradually emerged over the past several years, based on Hubble data since 2023
- Findings were published in the journal Science Advances
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