Giant 10-sided cloud wave discovered at Saturn's south pole

According to the statement made by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in the investigations carried out using Hubble Space Telescope data, a huge cloud wave called 10-sided 'decagon' was detected around the south pole of Saturn. In the research, it was stated that the cloud pattern in question was the first regular jet stream pattern ever observed in the southern hemisphere of the planet.

By examining the data obtained within the scope of Hubble's 'Exoplanet Atmospheres Heritage' (OPAL) program, it was understood that the structure began to form as of 2023. It was reported that the cloud wave, which was first noticed in ground-based telescope images by Agustin Sanchez-Lavega, a researcher at the Basque University in Spain, and amateur astronomers, was confirmed by Hubble's high-resolution detailed shots.

It was noted that the structure displayed is similar to the famous hexagonal cloud pattern that has existed at Saturn's north pole for more than 40 years, but differs in that it was formed recently. Researcher Amy Simon from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center said, "The hexagon in the north was there every time we looked. However, this new cloud wave is getting stronger and offers us the opportunity to watch the development of a huge atmospheric order. It is being investigated why this structure suddenly appeared and right now."

In measurements made at different wavelengths, it was determined that the 10-sided cloud wave did not remain only in the surface layer, but extended vertically towards the lower layers of the atmosphere. Researchers reported that observations will be continued with Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope to understand whether the cloud pattern will turn into a permanent structure like the hexagon in the north over time or whether it will continue to change.