Jesús Aceituno
Is the research of high quality?
“Yes, the members of the research team have been well-known for a long time and their reputation precedes them. The article has two parts: one describes the observations and the other interprets the phenomenon. It also draws on observations from various observatories, including the Hubble Space Telescope, which makes the work exceptional. Calar Alto contributed data using the PlanetCam instrument on the 2.2-metre telescope, with observations taken between 29 August and 1 September 2025.”
Is this the first time this decagonal wave has been discovered on Saturn?
“This is the first time a decagonal wave has been characterised in Saturn’s southern hemisphere, although it is important to note that the Cassini space mission observed a partial structure in the same hemisphere back in 2004. This time, however, it is indeed the first time it has been possible to characterise it, as its dynamics have been measured. It moves at a speed of around 2.5 m/s; the vertices oscillate longitudinally with a period of 32 days, reminiscent of the hexagon in the northern hemisphere, although it appears more complex. Note: it should not be confused with the northern structure, as although there is a certain geometric similarity (they are polygonal structures), the latter has been much more stable for decades. The one in the southern hemisphere could be transient.”
How does it fit in with the existing evidence?
“The discovery is consistent with models of Saturn’s atmospheric dynamics. These models could explain the formation of the well-known hexagon in the northern hemisphere as a result of intense jets generating polygonal waves, so the observed decagon is consistent with this. What is interesting about this new structure is that it appears to be recent and seems to be temporary.”
What are the implications?
“As it is a new structure, it provides us with a new laboratory for studying Saturn’s atmosphere. Often in astrophysics we cannot set up an experiment in a laboratory and wait to see what happens; therefore, when the universe shows us this kind of phenomenon, it is an opportunity to study them and better understand the mechanism that produces them.”
Are there any significant limitations that need to be taken into account?
“The models discussed in the article are a first approximation to explain why it has formed, but further combined observations will still be needed to determine more precisely the models that explain the mechanism that has given rise to this phenomenon.”