Saturns Polar Vortex

[StuW]

Thought this would interest you all, I haven't seen it posted yet...

http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2012/11272100-saturn-south-pole-raw.html

[JamesF]

Stunning image. The hexagon mystifies me, too. It seems so unnatural that such a shape could be created purely as a result of the rotation of the planet.

James

[StuW]

Apparently it's something to do with a rotating cloud layer interacting with an intersecting Jet Stream.. They've modeled it on computers to the point where they can make any shape you want.

[JamesF]

Now why can't they put that to some use here and make our weather behave the way we want?

James

[whooshbang]

That is an amazing shot and such great detail.. and taken today!

Thanks for posting it, gotta be my Astro photo of the day.

[SnakeyJ]

Thanks for this Stuart, This is an incredible and truely striking image, and I like Emmas title/description "Saturns Baleful Eye" - Even excluding the contribution of the Hyugens team/probe this mission has returned so much science and many beautifull/astounding images. In my book that's 3.26Billion USD well spent - I only wishing NASA had the follow up mission funded and ready to launch.

[paul schofield]

Great post, not seen that before, thanks for posting that.

[VigdisVZ]

Trippy but stunning images! Good find!

[SnakeyJ]

I only wishing NASA had the follow up mission funded and ready to launch.

In there before anyone else - The follow up mission is Nasa/ESA's Titan Saturn System Mission http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_Saturn_System_Mission

Rather smaller/cheaper than Cassinin Hyugens @ on a projected budget of 2.5Bn USD.

Not launching until 2020 and not reaching the target until 2029 - I've a reasonable chance of being alive for the arrival, just hope the dementia won't spoil the interest and wonder

[John]

Astonishing photos

I've seen the hexagon imaged before but at much lower resolution. These new images, especially the close up of of the pole itself are really something. The Universe never ceases to amaze

[Codmate]

Stunning image. The hexagon mystifies me, too. It seems so unnatural that such a shape could be created purely as a result of the rotation of the planet.

James

The hexagon has been re-created with fluid dynamics.

http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/science_blog/100416.html

[perrin6]

Hexagons formed naturally at the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland and on the Island of Staffa as hexagonal columns of basalt - they were produced by rapid cooling & shrinking of lava. The shapes aren't perfectly regular hexagons but it still looks unnatural to most eyes.

[JamesF]

The hexagon has been re-created with fluid dynamics.

http://www.ox.ac.uk/...log/100416.html

Sometimes it just defies understanding even when you understand it

James

[symesie04]

Wow incredible images and they instantly lead to questions, why the hexagon? how violent must it be in there? and is it just coincidence that the author has just a whiff of E.T about her?