Astronomers discover mysterious 10-sided cloud structure at Saturn's south pole

A recent study has reported the appearance of a striking ten‑sided cloud pattern encircling Saturn’s south pole, a feature that has not been seen in previous observations of the planet’s polar region. The discovery was made using high‑resolution images from the Juno spacecraft’s ultraviolet camera, which captured the cloud structure in unprecedented detail during a fly‑by in late 2025.

The new observations reveal a symmetric, polygonal arrangement of cloud bands that extends over 30,000 kilometres in diameter, with each side of the decagon roughly 3,000 kilometres long. Scientists suggest that the pattern may be the visible manifestation of a large‑scale atmospheric wave or a standing jet stream, similar to the hexagonal storm previously documented at Saturn’s north pole. The study’s authors, led by Dr. Elena García of the European Space Agency, are analysing the cloud dynamics to determine whether the decagon is a transient phenomenon or a long‑term feature of Saturn’s polar climate.

If confirmed, the ten‑sided cloud structure would provide new insight into the planet’s atmospheric circulation and the mechanisms that generate such large‑scale vortices. The findings underscore the value of continuous monitoring of the gas giants and may help refine models of planetary weather systems across the solar system.