Scientists Have Discovered A Giant Decagon On Saturn
- 3.09.2026, 13:38
It is located near the South Pole.
Astronomers have discovered a giant, decagon-shaped atmospheric structure near Saturn’s south pole. It was spotted in images taken in 2023, and observations using the Hubble Space Telescope confirmed the discovery.
This was reported by Science Alert.
The structure was discovered by a team of researchers led by Agustín Sánchez-Lavega from the University of the Basque Country (Spain). It is located at approximately 60 degrees south latitude and is associated with a strong easterly flow in the planet’s atmosphere.
The jet itself moves around Saturn at a speed of about 420 km/h, while the decagonal structure moves significantly slower—at a speed of approximately 10 km/h.
The new feature resembles the well-known hexagon at Saturn’s north pole. It was first observed by the Voyager spacecraft in 1980 and 1981. Further observations using the Hubble Space Telescope and the Cassini mission showed that the hexagon has remained stable for at least 44 years.
The decagon went unnoticed for a long time. In 2024, amateur astronomers observed a dark, wavy line around the south pole. Analysis of this data in 2025 revealed that it has the distinct shape of a decagon. Images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope made it possible to trace the emergence of this structure back to 2023.
According to the researchers, it is an atmospheric wave forming against a backdrop of powerful winds. Observations across various wavelength ranges showed that the structure extends to different altitudes, meaning it is not simply a pattern on the surface of the clouds.
At the same time, the decagon and the northern hexagon differ significantly. The hexagon is located closer to the pole, while the decagon is farther from it. Furthermore, the new feature appears to be less stable.
Scientists have not yet determined why exactly ten sides formed in Saturn’s southern hemisphere. One possible factor could be an anticyclone—a high-pressure vortex located slightly to the north. It is about 4,000 km wide.
Researchers have modeled several scenarios for the formation of the decagon, but none of them accurately reproduced the observed structure. Therefore, the role of the neighboring vortex remains only a hypothesis for now.
Astronomers plan to observe the decagon in the coming years. Saturn’s southern hemisphere is currently transitioning from spring to summer, so it is receiving more and more solar radiation. This could affect the stability of the atmospheric structure and help scientists understand the mechanism behind its formation.