Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and is famous for its beautiful rings. But did you know that it also has a very special storm at its North Pole? This storm is shaped like a hexagon, which is a shape with six sides, and it has amazed scientists and space fans for many years.
Right at the top of Saturn, there’s a huge storm that looks like a perfect hexagon. In the middle of this storm is a giant eye, similar to the eye of a hurricane on Earth, but much bigger. This eye is about 50 times larger than the eyes of hurricanes we see here. The whole storm is around 20,000 miles wide, which is twice as big as Jupiter’s famous Great Red Spot!
The hexagon shape of the storm is created by complicated movements in Saturn’s atmosphere. These movements involve both big and small storms. The smaller storms mix with the bigger ones, causing the winds to twist and turn into the hexagon shape. This shape has stayed the same for a very long time, maybe even hundreds of years!
The winds in this storm are super fast, reaching speeds of up to 340 miles per hour. That’s almost twice as fast as Saturn spins! The storm spins counterclockwise and stays right at the North Pole. Unlike hurricanes on Earth, which usually last about a week, this storm has been around for a very long time.
The Cassini spacecraft, which studied Saturn for 13 years, gave us lots of information about this hexagonal storm. On September 15, 2017, Cassini took its final dive into Saturn’s atmosphere, but not before taking amazing pictures of the hexagon. Scientists even made a movie from seven pictures taken over five hours, showing how the storm moves and changes.
The hexagonal storm at Saturn’s North Pole is a wonderful example of how complex and interesting Saturn’s atmosphere is. Scientists are still trying to figure out all its secrets. By studying this storm, we can learn more about how planets work and what makes them so unique.
Hexagon Hunt: Go on a hexagon hunt around your home or school! Look for objects that have a hexagonal shape, like a honeycomb or a nut. Draw or take pictures of the hexagons you find and share them with your class. Discuss why you think hexagons are used in these objects. What makes the hexagon a special shape?
Storm in a Jar: Create your own mini storm to understand how movements in the atmosphere can create shapes. Fill a clear jar with water and add a few drops of food coloring. Gently stir the water with a spoon to create a whirlpool. Watch how the colors mix and form patterns. Can you see any shapes forming? Imagine how the winds on Saturn might create the hexagon shape.
Wind Speed Challenge: Saturn’s storm has winds that reach up to $340$ miles per hour! Try to imagine how fast that is by comparing it to things you know. For example, a cheetah can run up to $70$ miles per hour. How many cheetahs would it take to match the speed of Saturn’s winds? Discuss with your classmates how these fast winds might affect the storm’s shape and movement.
