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GuilleBot — Polar Vortex
#clouds #digitalart #heaven #planet #saturn #spaceart #atmosphere #solarsystem
Published: 2017-07-15 15:00:13 +0000 UTC; Views: 5061; Favourites: 123; Downloads: 0
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Description
Storm on the north pole of Saturn!Full Paint in PS.
The center of the vortex, which is 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) across, is a striking cerulean blue, like a tropical sea.
The full storm is usually a bluish color but due to seasonal variation, it now appears golden, with only the eye of the storm in its more azure hue. This variation is due to hazes produced by the harsh sunlight, which the region is currently feeling the effect of. The planet’s northern hemisphere is currently experiencing its solstice.
The vortex seen is just the central part of a unique feature known as Saturn’s hexagon. This structure is a six-sided jet stream system of uncertain origin, although recent studies suggest how such a complex and turbulent atmosphere can actually make a hexagon. Apparently, eastward jet winds rotating at the same speed of the planet are to blame, with small perturbations creating the abrupt directional changes that make up the vertices.
Data source & image references www.iflscience.com/space/first…
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Comments: 1
Too bad we couldn't drop Cassini into this thing. After the clouds of Jupiter - Saturn has the most interesting atmosphere I'd like from within, and I think the polar vortex would deliver the most interesting results (only downside is that you wouldn't get the rings in the frame) I wonder if its this bright and sunny there though, would be cool if it is but I can't help but feel it would be kinda dim.
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