Slashdot Mirror


Cassini Probes the Hexagon On Saturn

Riding with Robots sends us to a NASA page with photos of a little-understood hexagonal shape surrounding Saturn's north pole. "This is a very strange feature, lying in a precise geometric fashion with six nearly equally straight sides," said Kevin Baines, member of Cassini's visual and infrared mapping spectrometer team. "We've never seen anything like this on any other planet." This structure was discovered by the Voyager probes over 20 years ago (here's an 18-year-old note on the mystery). The fact that it's still in place means it is stable and long-lived. Scientists have no idea what causes the hexagon. It's nearly big enough to fit four earths inside — comfortably larger than Jupiter's Great Red Spot. The article has an animation of clouds moving within the hexagon captured in infrared light.

38 of 280 comments (clear)

  1. North Pole? by ArcherB · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Saturn North Pole? Isn't that where Saturn Clause lives? Maybe he has something to do with it.

    --
    There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
    1. Re:North Pole? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I, for one, welcome our new hexagonal-shaped structure-building alien santa clause overlords.

    2. Re:North Pole? by ArieKremen · · Score: 2, Funny

      No, that's the nuts and bolts of planetary engineering

      --
      -- Cave quid dicis, quando, et cui
    3. Re:North Pole? by Walt+Dismal · · Score: 5, Funny
      Look here, it's time to become efficient. Efficiency is the key. So let us unify and number our memes:

      Meme 023AD01: "I, for one, welcome our new (variable1)-bearing (variable2) overlords."

      Meme 0567GS02: "In Russia, (variable1) (variable2)'s YOU!"

      Meme 2983KL99: "Step 1. (variable1) Step 2. (variable2) Step 3. PROFIT!"

      In the future, please use the simple and short MemeCode. This will allow us to operate more efficiently, increase profits and shareholder value, and also confuse the hell out of anyone new to Slashdot. Thank you.

      Darl McBride, CEO

      Mumble mumble Hexagon mumble mumble Aliens! mumble mumble Jack Thompson

    4. Re:North Pole? by WombatDeath · · Score: 3, Funny

      2983KL99( "Invoke demonic portal on Saturn", "???" )

      I don't care if it was a joke; I'm using this idea everywhere.

    5. Re:North Pole? by Old+Wolf · · Score: 2, Funny

      I didn't write it down -- it was too large to fit in the margin.

    6. Re:North Pole? by ColaMan · · Score: 5, Funny

      Reminds me of that old joke:

      A guy gets invited to a hunting lodge one evening, and on his arrival, everyone is having a few beers and taking it easy. Suddenly, one of them stands up and says, "27". Everyone has a bit of a laugh and they clap appreciatively. Another person stands and says, "48." Again this is met with laughter and a few guffaws.

      The visitor is perplexed and asks his host, "What's going on here?"
      His host replies, "Oh, these guys have known each other for years, so long now that they know all their jokes. So, to save time , they numbered them."
      "Oh!" the visitor says.
      "Did you want to have a try at it?" says the host.

      With much trepidation, the visitor stands up and says, "96."

      Well, it brought the house down. Grizzled old men are rolling about, clutching their sides laughing, gasping for breath. This goes on for nearly ten minutes.

      "Wow! They really liked that one!" says the visitor.
      "I'll say!" said the host, wiping a tear from his eye, "They hadn't heard that one before!"

      --

      You are in a twisty maze of processor lines, all alike.
      There is a lot of hype here.
  2. it must be by unfortunateson · · Score: 4, Funny

    space bees

    --
    Design for Use, not Construction!
  3. intelligent life by BigHungryJoe · · Score: 4, Funny

    With Fife Symington coming forward and saying that the Phoenix Lights from 1997 were actually an "other worldly craft" - how much longer can we believe ourselves to be alone in the universe?

    It's obvious to me, as a trained ufologist, that this is not a natural phenomenon. This hexagonal structure was BUILT by intelligent life.

    1. Re:intelligent life by CRCulver · · Score: 5, Funny

      It's obvious to me, as a trained ufologist, that this is not a natural phenomenon.

      It looks like this is the moment that years of hard work at the Correspondence College of Tampa prepared you for. Congratulations. (end obscure Simpsons reference).

    2. Re:intelligent life by CommunistHamster · · Score: 2, Funny

      Which university does a degree in Ufology?

    3. Re:intelligent life by stratjakt · · Score: 5, Funny

      Intelligent life couldn't "build" a long-term atmospheric feature?

      What are we to make of Lando's cloud city?

      THINK ABOUT LANDO FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE YOU RACIST

      --
      I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    4. Re:intelligent life by SatanicPuppy · · Score: 2, Funny

      Did you minor in bad science-ology? There are about ten links above you who show how the same shapes can be made in liquid water with a spinning plate...this suggests that the spinning of Saturn's core could very well be creating the same effect in the dense atmosphere.

      But let's not waste any opportunity in jumping to conclusions, because, as everyone knows, there are no straight lines in nature.

      Why is it all the UFO freaks have no grasp of science? Why does that follow?

      --
      ad logicam Claiming a proposition is false because it was presented as the conclusion of a fallacious argument.
    5. Re:intelligent life by rbanffy · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's obvious to me, as a trained ufologist, that this is not a natural phenomenon. This hexagonal structure was BUILT by intelligent life.

      It's obvious to me, as a trained slashdotter, many people are unable to understand sarcasm.

    6. Re:intelligent life by mdsolar · · Score: 2, Funny

      Judging by the pollution content of the atmosphere, I believe we have arrived at the late 20th century. -Spock

      Hummm... can "intelligent" life change the structure of an atmosphere? Doesn't sound so smart to me....
      --
      Go solar: http://mdsolar.blogspot.com/2007/01/slashdot-users -selling-solar.html

  4. old hardware? by physicsboy500 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Perhaps the universe is just poorly anti-aliased

    --
    The original generic sig.
  5. Thwarting the Terrorists by Grashnak · · Score: 2, Funny

    They may have gotten to our Pentagon, but I damn well double dare them to try and strike at our hexagon!

    --
    Life needs more saving throws.
  6. Nothing to see here... by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 2, Funny

    These are just tool marks left by the builders on Magrathea. Nothing to see here; please move along...

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  7. Mystery Solved by erroneus · · Score: 5, Funny

    When God created Saturn, he used a low polygon count to speed up the rendering process.

  8. A truly bizzare hexagon by Suzumushi · · Score: 5, Funny
    From TFA, "This nighttime view of Saturn's north pole shows a bizarre six-sided hexagon"

    Last time I checked, all hexagons had six sides...

    1. Re:A truly bizzare hexagon by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

      From TFA, "This nighttime view of Saturn's north pole shows a bizarre six-sided hexagon" Last time I checked, all hexagons had six sides...

      I once divided by zero and nothing happened, so now I'll try to create a seven-sided h

    2. Re:A truly bizzare hexagon by StikyPad · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yeah, but when's the last time you checked?

  9. Re:it must be bees by saskboy · · Score: 4, Funny

    I agree, the only logical conclusion is that Saturn has been colonized by giant space bees who have made it their honey comb hive.

    --
    Saskboy's blog is good. 9 out of 10 dentists agree.
  10. Fortress of Solitude by alienmole · · Score: 3, Funny

    Superman had to abandon his Earth-based Fortress of Solitude, which was starting to melt due to global warming, not to mention all the annoying scientific expeditions coming by to drill for ice cores. He figured he'd try Saturn's north pole for a change. The commute's a bit longer, but there's less traffic.

  11. I see pattern by Al+Al+Cool+J · · Score: 5, Funny

    Saturn is the sixth planet out.
    A hexagon has six sides.
    There is a second hexagon inside the first. Another six sides.

    6-6-6

    Hmmm, that number kind of has a ring to it. And so does Saturn.

    Coincidence?

    1. Re:I see pattern by dmccarty · · Score: 2, Funny
      Yeah, sorry, just a coincidence.

      It's actually just the top of the bolt that's holding the planet together. It keeps spinning because the other end is stripped.

      --
      Have fun: Join D.N.A. (National Dyslexics Association)
    2. Re:I see pattern by Al+Al+Cool+J · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes, 616 was the original number of the beast. However he changed it to 666 because it was easier to remember. I think it was the combination on his briefcase or something.

  12. Obviously... by ingo23 · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... it's a nut holding the rings in place. You can even see the bolt.

  13. Gah, they found it! by Fweeky · · Score: 3, Funny

    Do you have *any* idea how hard it is to find a parking space for that thing where some yob's not going to key it or deflate the tires or poke at it with a spectrograph? :(

    I should have got the next model down, then I could have pretended it was just another moon, but nooooooo, I had to get the hexagonal UltraSUV because it was "different" and had more legroom.

    Hm, wonder if that guy who owns Mimas would do a swap. His camo paint job looks *so* much less convincing after those stupid films.

  14. Re:it must be bees by istartedi · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well, everybody knows that: honeycomb big, yeah, yeah, yeah. If only these scientists had just taken the time to watch Saturday morning cartoons, or Futurama.

    --
    For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
  15. Goatse? by Seoulstriker · · Score: 3, Funny

    "almost looks like a human eye."

    Looks more like Saturn is giving us a Goatse, spreading wide for the camera.

    --
    I am defenseless. Use your button. Mod me down with all of your hatred.
    1. Re:Goatse? by moogs · · Score: 2, Funny

      Dude, it's friggin' Sauron!

      --
      I have bad karma. What do I care what you think?
  16. Easy enough, Jupiter is Jewish by roman_mir · · Score: 3, Funny

    Both words, Jupiter and Jewish start from 'J' and hexagon can be used to depict the star of David. The mystery is solved and Jupiter should really be renamed into Jewpiter. Oh, and it's closed on Saturdays. The official anthem is 7:40

    1. Re:Easy enough, Jupiter is Jewish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Heh, except for one small problem. We're talking about Saturn, not Jupiter.

  17. Sign of intelligent life by ajnsue · · Score: 3, Funny
    intelligent life beyond or solar system erected a giant stop sign indicating where it wants mankind to just slow down before it gets any big ideas about immigrating and lowering the galactic minimum wage.

    Or, its warning sign placed there by the Vogon Constructor Fleet

  18. Re:it must be bees by StikyPad · · Score: 2, Funny

    A Honeycomb Hideout, if you will.

  19. AT field ? by Yvanhoe · · Score: 4, Funny

    AT field detected on Saturn's surface ! Code Orange ! Launch all EVA units, and someone go fetch me the Longinus Spear !

    --
    The Wise adapts himself to the world. The Fool adapts the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the Fool.
  20. It's a circle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    On Saturn, pi is 3.