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Hubble Spots a 10-Sided Decagon Over Saturn's South Pole
Key Takeaways
- Researchers analyzing Hubble Space Telescope images from 2023 to 2025 identified a ten-sided atmospheric wave pattern, or decagon, in Saturn's southern polar region.
- It is the first such structure found in Saturn's southern hemisphere and contrasts with the long-known six-sided hexagon at the north pole.
- Both features are produced by Saturn's jet streams: the northern hexagon stream moves at 320 to 354 km/h (200 to 220 mph), while the southern decagon stream runs at 400 to 420 km/h (about 250 mph).
- The northern hexagon's position is largely fixed, whereas the southern decagon has been observed migrating eastward, a process the study flags for further investigation.
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DT Editorial Team··via universetoday.com