Astronomers have snapped another perfect shape in the cosmos: a 10-sided atmospheric structure on Saturn, dubbed the decagon. This latest discovery joins the planet’s famous north polar hexagon, adding a new layer to the enigma of Saturn’s atmospheric patterns.

The decagon is a striking feature, with each side measuring 16,800 kilometers. It’s a few thousand miles longer than Earth’s diameter and comes with a speedy jet stream, but the decagon itself moves at a snail’s pace. Its recent appearance and the mystery of its formation have left scientists puzzled, with no consensus on how such a structure could emerge in a planet without a solid surface.

Researchers speculate that the decagon might be the visible manifestation of atmospheric waves confined by powerful jet streams, similar to how ocean waves behave on Earth. The rapid rotation of Saturn, exact wind speeds, and variations in currents could all contribute to the distinct geometry. However, the deep questions remain: how long will the decagon persist, and what triggered its formation?

To unravel the mystery, scientists plan to continue monitoring the decagon using the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes, hoping to reconstruct the atmospheric conditions that could have given rise to this polygonal structure.