NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has revealed a giant, evolving 10-sided atmospheric wave (called a decagon) encircling Saturn’s south pole. This is the first large, regular-sided jet pattern observed in Saturn’s southern hemisphere. Researchers, using data from Hubble’s OPAL program, found that the pattern has become more distinct since 2023. The decagon extends through multiple layers of the atmosphere and moves eastward, though its formation mechanism and long-term stability remain unclear. Further observations with Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope are needed to understand how it formed and how it compares to Saturn’s well-known northern hexagon.
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