Astronomers discover mysterious 10-sided cloud structure at Saturn's south pole
A mysterious giant 10-sided pattern of clouds has recently formed around Saturn's south pole, a new study finds.
Astronomers have discovered an unusual 10-sided cloud formation at Saturn's south pole, according to a new study. This discovery joins the decades-old hexagon-shaped cloud pattern that has been observed at Saturn's north pole since 1988. The newly found decagon cloud, located at Saturn's south pole, spans approximately 104,250 miles (167,820 kilometers) and features sides measuring around 10,425 miles (16,782 kilometers).
The discovery came as a surprise to researchers, who had previously thought that the hexagon was a unique and singular feature. The decagon, captured by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope in 2023, rotates slowly around Saturn, completing a rotation every 800 days. Previous research suggested that Saturn's hexagon results from an eastward jet within its atmosphere near the north pole. Researchers believe that the decagon formed due to a meandering wave trapped by a curving atmospheric jet, similar to the hexagon's formation.
The decagon's sides and points are not equally dark, indicating that it may still be evolving. Researchers hope to gain a deeper understanding of the three-dimensional structure of the decagon's clouds, hazes, winds, and temperatures. This knowledge will help them develop more advanced models of the decagon's formation and evolution. The scientists published their findings in the journal Science Advances on September 2, 2023.
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