Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Saturn's Hexagon Comes to Light

NASA ^ | January 22, 2012 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: Believe it or not, this is the North Pole of Saturn. It is unclear how an unusual hexagonal cloud system that surrounds Saturn's north pole was created, keeps its shape, or how long it will last. Originally discovered during the Voyager flybys of Saturn in the 1980s, nobody has ever seen anything like it elsewhere in the Solar System. Although its infrared glow was visible previously to the Cassini spacecraft now orbiting Saturn, in 2009 the mysterious hexagonal vortex became fully illuminated by sunlight for the first time during the Cassini's visit. Since then, Cassini has imaged the rotating hexagon in visible light enough times to create a time-lapse movie. The pole center was not well imaged and has been excluded. This movie shows many unexpected cloud motions, such as waves emanating from the corners of the hexagon. Planetary scientists are sure to continue to study this most unusual cloud formation for quite some time.

[SunkenCiv]

[SunkenCiv]

Could be a giant nipple.

Or the pupil in an iris.

:’)

[SunkenCiv]

Hoaxland has never had an original idea about celestial bodies that made any sense at all. His main delusion for years was the so-called Face on Mars, which is (and was) clearly a natural formation. To show just how far gone he is, he rented a meeting room at the UN (because he could thereafter claim to have given a speech at the UN) and gave his presentation on the Face.

He said that there was nearly 95 percent symmetry between the two halves of the face. He then cut the image down the middle, and folded it one way, showing a sort of humanoid face that was (obviously) 100 percent symmetrical, then flipped the other half to show, well, pretty much nothing (he called it a feline face, iow, the FoM is the Sphinx). It looked nothing like the other half when mirrored.

IOW, there *is* no symmetry to the “Face”, which means he himself has proved (by removing his single piece of ‘evidence’) that the “Face” is not artificial. Then he used *that* to prove that it *was*. Anyone who doesn’t see that’s either completely nuts or a con, well, I’m just glad I don’t know you.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks lbryce.

[BenLurkin]

Our God is a brilliant designer indeed!

[lbryce]

Could be a giant nipple.
I've always liked your historical, political viewpoint and now must certainly concur with your acute perspective on heavenly bodies as well.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Was that necessary? OK, the face on Mars does bear a striking resemblence to Helen Thomas, but both are likely due to erosion and perhaps a few impacts over millions of years.

[dr_lew]

This SCIENCE magazine site from April 2010 has an embedded video of a pretty convincing analog produced in a rotating apparatus.

[dr_lew]

Has he said anything about a very similar apparition on Vesta? To me, this jumps right out, but not everyone is impressed. I think it stands out best in this thumbnail:

[Slings and Arrows]

Thank you both.

[shibumi]

"IOW, there *is* no symmetry to the “Face”, which means he himself has proved (by removing his single piece of ‘evidence’) that the “Face” is not artificial. Then he used *that* to prove that it *was*. Anyone who doesn’t see that’s either completely nuts or a con, well, I’m just glad I don’t know you."

That's all very nice except for the fact that nowhere in my post or links was there anything having to do with "The Face."

I also prefaced my posts with a disclaimer stating that I viewed this as a case of a blind squirrel finding a nut.

I merely wished to show that there has been some interesting work done on the appearance of polygons in Earthly phenomena. If you know of someone else who is researching in this area, then by all means, tell us.

Truly I am cut to the quick that you are so glad to not know me. Really, I am. (Sheesh!)