Saturn south pole features massive ten-sided atmospheric wave

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has confirmed the discovery of a massive, ten-sided atmospheric wave pattern encircling Saturn’s south pole. This decagon-shaped structure is the first large, regular-sided jet pattern observed in the planet’s southern hemisphere, providing a southern counterpart to the well-known hexagonal storm at Saturn’s north pole.

The phenomenon was first identified through ground-based observations by researcher Agustín Sánchez-Lavega of the University of the Basque Country, alongside amateur astronomers Trevor Barry and Jean-Paul Oger. Hubble data, part of the Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) programme, confirmed that the structure has been evolving and becoming more distinct since at least 2023.

Unlike the stable northern hexagon, which has been observed for over 40 years, this southern decagon appears to be a relatively recent development. Researchers noted that the wave is not merely a surface phenomenon but extends through multiple atmospheric layers within Saturn’s powerful jet stream. Scientists are now investigating why this geometric pattern emerged recently and whether it will become a permanent fixture of the planet’s southern atmosphere.