Hubble Spots Saturn’s Twin: A New Decagon at the South Pole

The update

Scientists have identified a new, evolving atmospheric feature at Saturn’s south pole. Using the Hubble Space Telescope and a network of amateur astronomers, researchers observed a 10-sided jet pattern encircling the planet’s southern pole. This structure moves independently of the surrounding atmosphere and is remarkably similar to Saturn’s well-known hexagonal cloud pattern at the north pole. The findings are published in the journal Science Advances.

Why it matters

This discovery suggests that the hexagonal feature at the north pole may not be as unique as previously thought. The presence of a similar, regular-sided jet at the opposite pole indicates that such atmospheric dynamics are a more common feature of the gas giant. The decagon is also described as evolving, offering a rare chance to study a developing weather pattern in real-time.

What to watch

Researchers will continue to monitor the decagon to see if it stabilizes or continues to evolve. The structure was pieced together from Hubble observations dating back to 2023, meaning the current image represents a snapshot of a longer-term atmospheric event.

Sources

• sciencenews.org — Context on the comparison to the north pole hexagon and the historical observation of the north feature.
• science.nasa.gov — Details on the decagon's shape, movement, and the Science Advances publication.