Hubble catches a giant 10 sided wave circling Saturn’s south pole
Astronomers using Hubble and the Very Large Telescope have discovered a giant 10-sided atmospheric wave circling Saturn's south pole. This decagon-shaped feature extends deep into the planet's troposphere and mirrors the famous hexagonal jet stream found at the north pole.
Why it matters
Understanding these stable, repeating geometric patterns in gas giant atmospheres provides critical insights into planetary fluid dynamics and weather systems.
Saturn’s north pole already hosts one of the solar system’s most famous atmospheric features: a giant six-sided jet stream . First photographed by the Voyager probes in 1980 and 1981, that northern hexagon spans 20,000 miles across and has held its shape for over four decades.
Atmospheric currents known as Rossby waves bend the fast-moving jet into straight-edged segments rather than a smooth circle. These impressive planetary waves form when rotating fluids drift across variations in latitude, forcing high-speed winds into stable, repeating geometry. The entire northern structure rotates along with Saturn’s 10.7 hour day , shifting colors from blue to gold as the planet moves through its decades-long seasons .
For over a decade, Saturn’s south pole remained tilted away from Earth, hiding in shadow between 2012 and 2023. As the pole turned back into view, astronomers caught their first glimpse of a new structure:
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