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Saturn’s South Pole Is Apparently Decagon-Shaped
Hackaday • • general
Key Points:
- Astronomers have discovered a ten-sided decagon pattern at Saturn's south pole, confirmed by recent research published in Science Advances by Agustín Sánchez-Lavega and colleagues.
- Unlike the well-known hexagon at Saturn's north pole, the south pole's decagon is a wave phenomenon within the planet's gaseous atmosphere, not a solid formation.
- These polygonal shapes result from standing waves in Saturn's polar vortex, driven by atmospheric wave interactions; the north pole hexagon is caused by an intense eastward jet.
- The south pole decagon is believed to arise from a meandering wave rather than a jet stream, making it less distinct but offering new insights into large-scale fluid dynamics on gas giants.
