Researchers using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope have identified a large 10-sided atmospheric structure near Saturn’s south pole, representing a significant discovery in planetary science. The feature was initially detected through ground-based observations in 2024 and 2025, when amateur astronomers and researchers noticed a faint wavy formation as Saturn’s seasonal shifts made the south polar region more visible from Earth. Hubble’s detailed imaging subsequently confirmed the presence of this decagon-shaped pattern and traced its development back to 2023 through archival observations.
The newly discovered structure bears some resemblance to Saturn’s famous northern hexagon, a feature that has persisted for more than 40 years. However, scientists emphasize that the southern decagon demonstrates distinct characteristics that suggest it may represent a different atmospheric phenomenon. The pattern appears to be actively strengthening rather than remaining stable, providing researchers with a rare opportunity to observe the formation and development of a giant planetary wave in real time.
Observations indicate that the decagon extends vertically through multiple layers of Saturn’s atmosphere rather than existing solely as a surface-level cloud pattern. The feature is located within one of Saturn’s powerful jet streams, and its precise position varies slightly depending on the wavelength of light used in observations, reflecting the different altitudes that various wavelengths probe within the atmosphere. Scientists note that the decagon’s apparent formation under current conditions raises questions about what triggered its development after remaining undetected throughout previous decades of observations.
The discovery emerged from data collected through NASA’s Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy program, which has systematically captured annual images of outer planets for more than a decade. This long-term observational approach enabled scientists to track the feature’s gradual development and compare it with historical data from the Cassini spacecraft and earlier Hubble observations. Researchers indicate that future monitoring using both Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope, combined with computer modeling, will be necessary to understand the decagon’s formation, predict its longevity, and determine how closely it compares to the stable northern hexagon.
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