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by elihu 1738 days ago

As weird as the Saturn hexagon is, I think the oddly symmetrical polar storms of Jupiter have it beat in terms of "gawp factor".

Also the ridge on Iapetus is worth an honorable mention if we're talking about things that don't look like they belong in nature.

What a strange place this solar system is.

2 comments

jkubicek 1738 days ago

Iapetus Ridge: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equatorial_ridge_on_Iapetus

Polar Storms of Jupiter: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Jupiter#Circumpo...

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pvaldes 1738 days ago

Hum, I just realized that those polar storms would turn easily into the hexagon if they just lose power (or would be covered by another layer of material over it). Both are probably the same phenomenon. More strong in Jupiter, less in Saturn. Tornados would explain also why is a tall shape

The hexagon should gyrate slower (with less energy) than the jupiter storms. Neptune should have also the same process but is colder I'm not wrong, so maybe it has less energy and is not so easily visible.

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pvaldes 1738 days ago

Yep, here is the Neptune hexagon... same pattern, same process

https://slate.com/technology/2014/05/neptune-voyager-images-...

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bolasanibk 1738 days ago

More weirdness in our Solar System

Mimas - A moon of Saturn which from certain angles looks like a death star. [1]

Hyperion - Another moon of Saturn which looks like a sponge. [2]

Phobos - A moon of Mars with a huge crater on one end.[3]

[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimas_%28moon%29 [2] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperion_(moon) [3] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phobos_(moon)

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