The Cassini spacecraft has found many wonders on and around the planet Saturn. Especially at the north pole.One of the more perplexing and exciting discoveries was the hexagon and the scientifically unexpected aurora over it (Saturn's Poles). And that was found after a hot spot was unexpectedly found in the center of the totally unexpected hexagon.
It was first discovered two decades ago by an early mission to Saturn. It was seen again in the 1990's and now Cassini has photographed it up close and personal.
As it is studied more and more questions tend to arise. How does a hexagon shape get formed? And how does it then remain over the years in 300 mph hurricane and tornado force winds? Especially in Saturn's heavy atmosphere?
It is quite unlike the more famous Giant Red Spot on Jupiter, which is a hurricane shaped and more circular object as one would expect.
It shows once again, as we throw out the textbooks and print new ones, that our knowledge of the solar system and the universe is limited (Discovery Channel Article [it got lost, so Wayback Machine Version]).
I am amazed at how soon textbooks about the planets become extinct.
ReplyDeleteThese days new discoveries happen so often, with the robotic missions to planets, that such textbooks might be more efficiently used if they are designed like law books.
Those have soft cover updates regularly which slip directly into the back cover.
That way you don't have to throw them away and buy new ones every few months.
It looks like an alien prison. Perhaps they take bad folks from earth and put them there?
ReplyDeleteLook out politicians who do not serve the public interests!