Saturns Hexagon Comes to Light
Explanation:
Believe it or not, this is the North Pole of Saturn.
It is unclear how
an unusual hexagonal cloud system that surrounds
Saturn's north pole was created, keeps its shape, or how long it will last.
Originally discovered during the
Voyager
flybys of Saturn in the 1980s, nobody has ever seen
anything like it elsewhere in the Solar System.
Although its
infrared glow was visible previously to the
Cassini spacecraft now orbiting Saturn, in 2009 the mysterious
hexagonal vortex became fully illuminated by sunlight for the
first time during the Cassini's visit.
Since then, Cassini has imaged the
rotating hexagon
in visible light enough times to create a
time-lapse
movie.
The pole center was not well imaged and has been excluded.
This
movie shows many unexpected cloud motions,
such as waves emanating from the corners of the hexagon.
Planetary scientists are sure to continue to study
this most
unusual cloud formation for quite some time.
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Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
