由西班牙巴斯克国家大学首席研究员阿古斯汀·桑切斯-拉韦加领导的研究团队利用哈勃太空望远镜，在土星南极的冰氨云层中发现了一个巨大的10边形波纹图案1。该波纹于2023年被观测到，研究人员推测该现象可能在2017年至2023年间形成1。
十边形波纹的规模和不稳定性均显著超过土星北极的六边形波纹。其单一边长已超过10,000英里（约16,700公里），且以东向6英里/小时（10公里/小时）的速度移动1。相比之下，土星北极的六边形波纹几乎保持静止，已被航天器连续观测超过40年，观测时长超过一个土星年（相当于地球30年）1。土星是太阳系中唯一形成多边形几何形状波纹的行星1。
这项研究成果已发表在《科学进展》期刊，进一步确认了土星独特的多边形大气现象比之前认为的更为普遍，有助于科学家更深入地理解巨行星的天气模式1。
Researchers have identified a colossal 10-sided wave structure swirling through the icy ammonia clouds above Saturn's south pole, marking a significant expansion of knowledge about the gas giant's atmospheric phenomena. 1 The decagonal pattern was observed by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2023, with scientists estimating the structure likely formed sometime between 2017 and 2023. 1 Each side of the geometric formation stretches beyond 10,000 miles (16,700 kilometers). 1
The newly discovered 10-sided pattern demonstrates notable differences from the planet's better-known northern polar feature. 1 While the south polar decagon drifts eastward at approximately 6 miles per hour (10 kilometers per hour), the north polar hexagon remains nearly stationary. 1 The hexagonal pattern at Saturn's north pole has been continuously monitored by spacecraft for over 40 years, a span exceeding one Saturn year, equivalent to approximately 30 years on Earth. 1 Lead researcher Agustin Sanchez-Lavega from the Basque Country University spearheaded the investigation, with findings published in the journal Science Advances. 1
This discovery underscores that Saturn stands as the sole planet in the solar system capable of generating such polygonal geometric wave patterns in its atmosphere. 1 The existence of these formations suggests that the planetary phenomenon is more widespread than previously understood, offering scientists deeper insights into the weather mechanisms operating within massive gas giants.
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