Scientists have identified a massive 10-sided wave pattern in the ammonia clouds over Saturn’s south pole. This new decagonal formation is larger and more unstable than the well-known hexagon at Saturn’s north pole, first observed by NASA’s Voyager missions in the 1980s. Detected by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2023, the decagon likely formed between 2017 and 2023, a period when the pole was tilted away from Earth. Its size is remarkable; one side alone measures over 10,000 miles (16,700 kilometers).
Lead author Agustin Sanchez-Lavega from the University of the Basque Country noted that these findings challenge the notion of the hexagon being a singular phenomenon. Both structures are associated with different jet streams; however, the hexagon remains stationary while the decagon drifts eastward at about 6 mph (10 kph).
The study, published in Science Advances, emphasizes Saturn’s unique ability to produce polygonal atmospheric patterns, a feature not observed in other gas giants. Researchers are eager to understand the relationship between Saturn’s decagon and Jupiter’s polygonal cyclones. Future observations over the coming years could reveal more about this intriguing atmospheric phenomenon, although it remains uncertain whether the decagon will persist as long as the hexagon, which has been visible for over 40 years.
