Saturn’s Hexagon May Be Solar System’s Coolest Mystery

[The Straight Story]

Saturn’s Hexagon May Be Solar System’s Coolest Mystery



The Cassini spacecraft has returned the best images yet of the strange hexagonal jet stream that flows around the northern pole of Saturn.

First discovered by the Voyager spacecraft in the early 1980s, the hexagon remains a beautiful mystery to astronomers, and one they’ve been waiting for another shot to see for almost three decades.

“The longevity of the hexagon makes this something special, given that weather on Earth lasts on the order of weeks,” said Kunio Sayanagi, a Cassini project researcher at the California Institute of Technology, in a NASA release. “It’s a mystery on par with the strange weather conditions that give rise to the long-lived Great Red Spot of Jupiter.”

The hexagon circles Saturn at 77 degrees north and is wider than two Earths. Nearly everything about the weather pattern is baffling. First, it’s unclear what causes the hexagon. Second, it’s bizarre that the jet stream would make such sharp turns. Earth’s atmospheric movements rarely display such geometric rigor.

(time lapse video at link)

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/12/saturn-hexagon/

[asdjrocky]

1. That is wicked cool.

[HopeHoops]

2. Saturn has an asshole!

Okay, it is a rather beautiful one, but still.

[The Straight Story]

3. I thought maybe you saw an image of bush there

:rofl:

[HopeHoops]

9. E-GADS MAN!

If that were the case, I would have posted this:

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[Gold Metal Flake]

6. Why does it have to be an asshole?

It's always ass, ass, ass with you. This could be Saturn's belly button. It has an innie. Why do you hate the innies? Don't be hatin' on the innies!

[HopeHoops]

8. Okay, I could go with a belly button. That works.

[Gold Metal Flake]

13. It's a happier thought.

Mmm. Belly button. What could happen next? I dunno, but it's Friday. Could be anything!

[phantom power]

4. Convection cells are often hexagonal.

Seems likely that it will have something to do with cellular convection.

[The Straight Story]

7. Nope, it is satan - has six sides, and is sixth planet, and six angels hold him in the hexagon

Now I need to go write a book and make some money off of that theory :)

[jberryhill]

14. You can sometimes see this in boiling water....

I always thought it had something to do with the 120 degree water bond angle.

Learn something new every day here on DU.

[mike_c]

15. are convection cells hexagonal or are they simply in hexagonal arrays...?

The model you posted looks more like the latter than the former.

[phantom power]

20. They are hexagonal when they form in arrays.

I just wonder if there is an array of convection cells that is not visible in our imagery, something that is influencing the shape.

:shrug:

[Fumesucker]

5. That is truly bizarre..

I've never heard of it before, thanks for posting..

[azmouse]

10. Awesome!

Makes me wonder what else is waiting to be seen as humans explore space.

[snake in the grass]

11. k/r for coolness factor...

[TexasObserver]

12. Recommend

[SidDithers]

16. Rec'd...

The universe is a wonderous place.

Sid

[Forkboy]

17. Somebody get Hoagland on the phone!

[The Straight Story]

19. Will be listening to Coast to Coast tonight

;)

[hunter]

18. That's obviously this solar system's star gate.

You'd think Saturn's rings would make it obvious. Looky here!

I mean what does the Galactic Federation have to do? Send us an engraved invitation and a shuttlecraft???