Saturn's south pole is growing a new geometric neighbor
In short: For over 40 years, Saturn’s north pole has been defined by its iconic hexagonal storm. Now, a bizarre 10-sided decagon is emerging at the south pole—a giant atmospheric wave that appears to be strengthening in real time.
Researchers first identified this decagonal jet formation as a major, symmetrical atmospheric occurrence within Saturn's southern region. While it shares some visual similarities with the famous northern hexagon, researchers believe it represents a distinct and potentially new atmospheric phenomenon. The structure is not just a surface cloud; observations show the wave persists through several atmospheric layers, extending deep into the planet's atmosphere and coinciding with a large jet stream.
The timeline of this emergence is remarkably recent. By piecing together archival data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, researchers identified subtle hints of the structure beginning to form as early as 2023. It was first noticed by ground-based observers in 2024 as a faint undulating band and became more pronounced in 2025 imagery. This rapid development stands in stark contrast to the northern hexagon, which has remained stable for more than four decades.
The discovery was made possible by Saturn's orbital mechanics. As the planet moves through its roughly 29-year journey around the sun, its changing seasons gradually brought the south pole into view from Earth. Scientists are now using Hubble’s high spatial resolution and the James Webb Space Telescope to study how this wave is generated and whether it will persist for years or decades, offering a rare opportunity to witness a planetary weather system in its infancy.
This research was conducted as part of the Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) program, which has provided annual imagery of the outer planets for over a decade. The study highlights how long-term monitoring can reveal transient events that might otherwise be missed during single flybys or short observation windows.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Hubble Reveals a Bizarre Decagon in Saturn's Atmosphere
- Also: NASA's Hubble Tracks New Decagon Encircling Saturn’s South Pole - NASA Science
- Also: Hubble confirms mysterious, 10-sided cloud is growing over Saturn's south pole | Live Science
- Also: NASA scientists discover a giant 10-sided pattern on Saturn | ScienceDaily
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/space-hubble-reveals-a-bizarre-decagon-in-saturn-s-atmosphere.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Astronomy · More in Space · Latest · A–Z · All topics
