{
  "id": 5185754,
  "title": "Hubble Images Uncover Massive 10-Sided Wave Brewing at Saturn's South Pole",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/hubble-images-uncover-massive-10-sided-wave-brewing-at-saturns-south",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-02T22:10:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discover Magazine",
    "slug": "discover-magazine",
    "url": "https://www.discovermagazine.com/hubble-images-uncover-massive-10-sided-wave-brewing-at-saturn-s-south-pole-49629"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A striking 10-sided weather pattern, dubbed a decagon wave, has been observed at Saturn’s stormy south pole by the Hubble Space Telescope. Researchers from the University of the Basque Country are intrigued by this geometric structure, as it marks the first time such a formation has been detected at the icy planet’s southern hemisphere. The discovery came to light in 2023 when the Hubble captured red-filtered images revealing the unusual shape in Saturn's south pole region. This is a stark contrast to the hexagon wave, a stable 6-sided feature that has been locked in Saturn's north pole jet stream for over 40 years since its first discovery by NASA's Voyager missions in 1980. Scientists are eager to understand the similarities and differences between the two patterns, with the decagon wave currently appearing to evolve and strengthen. The researchers believe the wave may have been triggered by a disturbance in Saturn’s jet stream or a nearby swirling vortex near a storm system. These atmospheric conditions seem to allow the formation of these complex patterns on Saturn, which contrasts with Earth's more chaotic weather system.",
  "summary": "Learn about the decagon wave that has appeared at Saturn's south pole, offering an opportunity to study an evolving atmospheric structure.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "ESA Space Science",
        "title": "Hubble tracks new decagon encircling Saturn’s south pole",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/hubble-tracks-new-decagon-encircling-saturns-south-pole",
        "published": "2026-09-02T18:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Scientist",
        "title": "Saturn has a big, weird decagon around its south pole",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/saturn-has-a-big-weird-decagon-around-its-south-pole",
        "published": "2026-09-02T18:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Science News",
        "title": "New Hubble images reveal a bizarre decagon over Saturn’s south pole",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/new-hubble-images-reveal-a-bizarre-decagon-over-saturns-south-pole",
        "published": "2026-09-02T18:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Scientific American",
        "title": "Scientists discover a mysterious wave shaped like a decagon in Saturn's atmosphere",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/scientists-discover-a-mysterious-wave-shaped-like-a-decagon-in",
        "published": "2026-09-02T18:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NASA Science",
        "title": "NASA’s Hubble Tracks New Decagon Encircling Saturn’s South Pole",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/nasas-hubble-tracks-new-decagon-encircling-saturns-south-pole",
        "published": "2026-09-02T18:00:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Phys.org",
        "title": "Hubble tracks new decagon encircling Saturn's south pole",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/hubble-tracks-new-decagon-encircling-saturns-south-pole-5166895",
        "published": "2026-09-02T20:40:07.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}