Eye of the storm at Saturn's north pole

[stargazer3]

Hi! I'm really excited about recent APoD picture, which shows Cassini's photo of a gigantic storm on Saturn's north pole. They also have an animation! I can't wait for a colour picture and videos.

Meanwhile, since I still didn't state the purpose of this thread, what are the inner vortex dimensions? NASA's webpage says the probe took the picture from four hundred thousand kilometers away, but I can't find anything about the storm size.

Also, the http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/photos/imagedetails/index.cfm?imageId=4679 image shows an evident hexogonal structure, what on Earth is it caused by?

 

[mfb]

Also, the http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/photos/imagedetails/index.cfm?imageId=4679 image shows an evident hexogonal structure, what on Earth is it caused by?

I do not think it is caused by anything on earth.
Sorry, could not resist ;).

I found 25000km as diameter for the hexagonal structure. Comparing this with an image of both together, this would indicate ~2000km for the diameter of the inner part.

 

[Bandersnatch]

Also, the http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/photos/imagedetails/index.cfm?imageId=4679 image shows an evident hexogonal structure, what on Earth is it caused by?

Exploring the link mfb provided, we can find this:
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2010/2471.html

 

[davenn]

Now that is seriously impressive

thanks for the links :)

Dave

 

[pmacias]

I am also excited about the recent APoD picture of the storm on Saturn's north pole. It is truly a remarkable and rare sight to see such a large and powerful storm on another planet. The animation provided also gives us a better understanding of the dynamics and movement of the storm.

In regards to the inner vortex dimensions, NASA's webpage states that the storm is approximately 2,000 kilometers wide. However, the exact dimensions may vary as the storm is constantly evolving and changing. The hexagonal structure seen in the image is a common feature at Saturn's north pole and is believed to be caused by the planet's unique atmospheric patterns and jet streams.

It is important to continue studying and observing this storm in order to gain a deeper understanding of its behavior and potential impacts on Saturn's atmosphere. The data and images collected by Cassini are crucial in helping us unravel the mysteries of this giant storm. I am also eagerly awaiting the release of color pictures and videos, which will provide even more insight into this fascinating phenomenon.