Saturn’s south pole decagon confirmed! A mysterious 10-sided figure

A recent discovery confirms the existence of a 10-sided atmospheric wave at Saturn's south pole, marking the first time such a large, regular-sided jet pattern has been observed in the gas giant's southern hemisphere. This phenomenon, named the Saturn decagon, was first detected by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope in 2023 and has since evolved, becoming a clearly defined structure in Hubble images taken in August–September 2025.

The discovery, published in the journal Science Advances in September 2026, was made by an international team led by Agustín Sánchez-Lavega, a researcher at the University of the Basque Country in Spain. The feature appears to be strengthening, offering scientists a unique opportunity to observe the development of a giant atmospheric pattern on Saturn.

The presence of the decagon at Saturn's south pole is due to the gradual shift in the planet's seasons, making the south pole visible from Earth over the past few years. This discovery adds to our understanding of atmospheric dynamics in giant planets, both within our solar system and beyond.