NASA Spots a Massive, Mysterious 10-Sided Shape on Saturn

A surprise discovery on Saturn has astronomers scratching their heads but hopeful that it may offer more information about the mysterious planet. Read on for all of the details of this newly discovered decagon hovering above the second-largest planet in the solar system.

Decagon on Saturn's South Pole Joins Planet's Hexagon

A 10-sided feature known as a decagon has been observed swirling around Saturn's south pole. The decagon joins a previously observed six-sided hexagon that has been spotted on the planet's north pole. The latest observation is the first time that a regular-sized polygonal jet pattern has been identified on the massive planet's southern hemisphere.

Most people know Saturn for its famous rings made up of billions of tiny chunks of rock and ice. The Cassini probe began exploring the sixth planet from the sun in 2004, studying the mystical rings and moons. Scientists have since confirmed dozens more moons orbiting this planet. The moon count now stands at a whopping 274, ranging in size from large planets to smaller features.

While the discovery of all of the new moons has been the latest news coming out of Saturn's observations, NASA is now detailing how its Hubble Space Telescope recently spotted a giant enigmatic pattern with 10 sides. NASA confirmed last week that the formation was first noticed in 2023. The initial data indicated that the feature likely formed earlier but did not become visible until the planet's southern hemisphere moved back into view of the telescope.

Since its discovery in 2023, the pattern has emerged as more visible and concrete. The emergent qualities of the pattern signal that the phenomenon is still developing.

NASA Still Learning About the Unique South Pole Decagon

NASA describes the decagon as an atmospheric wave. The wave is circulating within all of the planet's potent jet streams. Officials at NASA note that the decagon is "the first large, persistent, regular-sided pattern observed at Saturn’s southern hemisphere." According to the data, the decagon's sides each extend for over 10,000 miles. The decagon stretches through several layers of Saturn's atmosphere.

The decagon is larger than what was first observed on Saturn's north pole. The north pole hexagon was first identified over 40 years ago using information gleaned from flybys performed by NASA's pair of Voyager probes in 1980 and 1981. Subsequent observations from the agency's Cassini spacecraft found that the jet streams flowing on the hexagon extended 20,000 miles across. Hubble also captured this hexagon, likely indicating that it has been stable for years.

Scientists are hopeful that the combination of the data from the hexagon and the newly observed decagon will provide a better understanding of the gassy planet's weather patterns. For example, new observations from Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope could provide information about how the decagon came to be and how long it may remain on the south pole.  

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