infrared data from the spacecraft
confirms a hot, hexagonal cyclone spinning away at the north pole of of the planet
The south polar hot spot had been previously observed
It was thought that the sunlight was causing the hot spot at the south pole
adds a bit of mystery to the mechanisms causing the cyclones
rather than caused by the seasons
The hot spots are the result of air moving polewards, being compressed and heated up as it descends over the poles into the depths of Saturn. The driving forces behind the motion, and indeed the global motion of Saturn's atmosphere, still need to be understood
The northern cyclone also has the peculiar shape of a hexagon, something absent from the southern cyclone
Winter lasts 15 years on Saturn, and in the next few years the north pole will again start to see sunlight, possibly changing the features of the cyclone and giving scientists a better understanding of how the Sun affects these tricky twisters.
clipped from: www.universetoday.com 