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Astronomers Discover a 10-Sided Atmospheric Structure at Saturn's South Pole
Key points
- A 10-sided polygon was found at Saturn's south pole.
- The discovery was confirmed using images from amateur astronomers and Hubble.
- This suggests polygonal waves can form in both hemispheres.
- The northern hexagon was previously thought to be unique.
Discovery of a New Polygonal Structure
Astronomers, led by Agustín Sánchez-Lavega of the University of the Basque Country, have identified a new giant polygon in Saturn's atmosphere. This structure, located around the planet's south pole, has ten sides, making it a decagon.
Confirmation and Background
The decagon was initially observed in images from amateur astronomers in 2024. Subsequent work in 2025, using polar projections from images by Trevor Barry and Jean-Paul Oger, confirmed its presence. High-quality images from the Hubble Space Telescope further verified the discovery and traced its existence back to 2023.
This finding contrasts with previous observations, as neither earlier Hubble images nor data from the Cassini spacecraft between 2004 and 2017 had revealed this southern polygonal wave.
Implications for Saturn's Atmosphere
The discovery suggests that the well-known six-sided hexagon at Saturn's north pole is not an isolated phenomenon. According to Sánchez-Lavega, the conditions in Saturn's atmosphere allow for the formation of polygonal waves in both hemispheres around the polar regions. This indicates a broader propensity for such structures on the gas giant.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Astronomers led by Agustín Sánchez-Lavega have identified a decagonal atmospheric structure at Saturn's south pole, similar to the hexagon at its north pole. This discovery indicates that polygonal atmospheric waves are not unique to Saturn's northern hemisphere and can form in both polar regions.