A hexagonal feature around Saturn's north pole
Abstract
Most analyses of the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn have concentrated on the equatorial and midlatitude regions. These have the best coverage because of the near-equatorial trajectories of the Voyager spacecraft. We used map-projected images to examine the polar regions of Saturn, which show an unexpected hexagonal feature. Measurements from a sequence of images show that the flow pattern echoes this shape. The striated clouds that form the pattern are moving at over 100 m/sec. However the hexagonal shape itself rotates at the radio rotation period, suggesting possibly some connection between the feature and the observed kilometric radio emissions.
- Publication:
-
Icarus
- Pub Date:
- November 1988
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0019-1035(88)90075-9
- Bibcode:
- 1988Icar...76..335G
- Keywords:
-
- Planetology;
- Polar Regions;
- Saturn Atmosphere;
- Voyager 2 Spacecraft;
- Flow Distribution;
- Flow Velocity;
- Radio Emission;
- Velocity Measurement;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration, Earth Science