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Saturn's Strange Hexagon Recreated In the Lab

Posted by timothy on from the reproducing-the-big-wet-spot dept.

cremeglace writes "Saturn boasts one of the solar system's most geometrical features: a giant hexagon encircling its north pole. Though not as famous as Jupiter's Great Red Spot, Saturn's Hexagon is equally mysterious. Now researchers have recreated this formation in the lab using little more than water and a spinning table—an important first step, experts say, in finally deciphering this cosmic mystery. More details, including a cool demo video, at ScienceNOW."

3 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. Geometrical by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A hexagon? The summary is right, that is the most geometrical feature I've ever seen in the solar system. At least twice as geometrical as all those spheroids and ellipses.

  2. Re:Yawn by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 5, Informative

    RTFA- the vortex previously used to explain this effect was gone when Cassini came by- but the hexagon was still there. This is a laboratory experiment, completely reproducible, that explains the effect in a new way.

    --
    SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
  3. SATURN HAS 6 CORNER by butalearner · · Score: 5, Funny

    SIMULTANEOUS 6-DAY

    TIME HEXAGON

    IN ONLY 10.57 HOUR ROTATION