A strange hexagon on Saturn started from unknown causes to change the color of Messages Gazeta.pl

Why the atmosphere around the North pole of Saturn has changed color from blue to gold? To whirl around the North pole of Saturn’s strange in itself – has an hexagonal form, which a long time potrafiono to explain.

Structure with a width of 32 000 km in length into the atmosphere at 100 km is known for 30 years. However, scientists could not explain why this is not just a round. Currently considered to be the correct assumption, according to which the hexagonal form is the result of a difference in speed of rotation of the vortex in the center and the edges – a similar phenomenon has been reproduced in a laboratory.

the vortex, and visible on the surface of the gas planet is a reflection of a much more deadly phenomenon. Around the North pole of the planet is blowing constant, a giant storm that lasts at least several decades, and it is possible that within a few centuries.

It was observed, however, the strange change. Photos taken using the Cassini spacecraft showed that during the last four years, the vortex changed from blue to gold. The researchers suspect that it may be associated with the change of seasons on the planet-the giant.

Year on Saturn lasts 29 earth years, so each season lasts about 7 years. Now as time goes on in the Northern hemisphere, late spring, and the summer solstice will take place in may 2017. This means that the North pole receives more sunlight. According to scientists it causes in the atmosphere of Saturn, the number of reactions that produce a suspension of particles barwiącą vortex. In winter, when sunlight is practically not been reported North winds that blow on the edge of the vortex odizolowały its interior from the effects of other atmospheres and the area cleared from suspension and took the color blue. Now reactions again occur and the color starts to change.

while this is only a hypothesis – scientists say that the phenomenon may have another source, such as those associated with changes in circulation of the gases in the planet’s atmosphere.

in the Near future (i.e. within the next 7 years) we are waiting for summer in the Northern hemisphere of Saturn. Let the probe Cassini still worked and took pictures of what was going on at this time.