NASA scientists discover a giant 10-sided pattern on Saturn
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has identified a new 10-sided atmospheric wave pattern circling Saturn's south pole. This discovery, supported by amateur astronomer data, suggests a developing weather phenomenon distinct from the planet's long-standing northern hexagon.
Why it matters
Understanding these atmospheric patterns provides critical insights into planetary science and the seasonal evolution of gas giants.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has spotted a striking new feature in Saturn's atmosphere: a huge, evolving 10-sided wave circling the planet's south pole.
It is the first time scientists have observed a large, regularly shaped jet pattern in Saturn's southern hemisphere. The structure has some similarities to Saturn's famous hexagon at its northern pole, but important differences suggest researchers may be watching a distinct atmospheric phenomenon take shape.
The results were published in the journal Science Advances .
Researchers reconstructed the development of the feature using several years of Hubble observations going back to 2023. Earlier images contained faint signs of the structure before it developed into the much clearer pattern seen more recently.
The observations came from Hubble's Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) program, which has captured annual images of the outer planets for more than a decade.
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