Astronomers Find Second Hexagonal Storm on Saturn

Astronomers have discovered a ten-sided atmospheric wave, or decagon, swirling over Saturn’s south pole, according to new images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.

The finding mirrors a long-studied hexagonal weather pattern previously identified at Saturn’s north pole. Researchers report that the newly revealed southern structure shares a similar geometric dominance in the planet’s upper atmosphere, though with a distinct ten-sided symmetry rather than the six-sided configuration seen in the north.

According to Science News reporting published on Sept. 2, 2026, the Hubble observations provide the clearest look yet at the southern polar region. Planetary scientists have tracked the northern hexagon since its initial detection during the Voyager flybys in the early 1980s and subsequent confirmation by the Cassini spacecraft.

While the northern hexagon spans roughly 30,000 kilometers across, the newly documented southern decagon adds a fresh puzzle for dynamic meteorologists studying planetary waves. Researchers continue to analyze how these stable geometric wave patterns form and persist in the gas giant’s fast-moving jet streams without breaking apart.