Stunning Photos: Saturn's Weird Hexagon Vortex Storms

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Saturn Vortex Storm Close-Up: Cassini

NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSI

This spectacular photo of a polar storm on Saturn was taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on Nov. 27, 2012. It is a raw and unprocessed image.

Saturn Hexagon Vortex Storm (Wide View)

NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSI

Saturn's mysterious northern vortex, a vast hexagon-shaped storm, dominates this photo taken Nov. 27, 2012, by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. This image is a raw and unprocessed view.

Giant Vortex on Saturn: Cassini Photo

NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSI

Saturn's mysterious northern vortex, a vast hexagon-shaped storm, dominates this photo taken Nov. 27, 2012, by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. This image is a raw and unprocessed view.

Bizarre Hexagon Spotted on Saturn

NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

A bizarre six-sided feature encircling the north pole of Saturn near 78 degrees north latitude has been spied by the visual and infrared mapping spectrometer on NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

The hexagon of Saturn

NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute

Saturn Vortex

NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute

This detailed Cassini view of the monstrous vortex at Saturn's south pole provides valuable insight about the mechanisms that power the planet's atmosphere. This view, taken on July, 14, 2008, is 10 times more detailed than any previous image of the polar vortex.

Saturn Storm Has Hurricane-Like Features

NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute

Cassini stares deep into the swirling hurricane-like vortex at Saturn's south pole, where the vertical structure of the clouds is highlighted by shadows. Such a storm, with a well-developed eye ringed by towering clouds, is a phenomenon never before seen on another planet.

Saturn Vortex

NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute

This detailed Cassini view of the monstrous vortex at Saturn's south pole provides valuable insight about the mechanisms that power the planet's atmosphere. This view, taken on July, 14, 2008, is 10 times more detailed than any previous image of the polar vortex.

Saturn Storm Has Hurricane-Like Features

NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute

Cassini stares deep into the swirling hurricane-like vortex at Saturn's south pole, where the vertical structure of the clouds is highlighted by shadows. Such a storm, with a well-developed eye ringed by towering clouds, is a phenomenon never before seen on another planet.

Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
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