New discoveries about Saturn

[Brian G Turner]

A few good articles about recent discoveries about Saturn, due to the Cassini mission, in the science press today, namely:

1. Saturn's magnetic field isn't tilted, undermining existing models of how planets generate magnetic fields;

2. Saturn's inner ring is doing strange things, namely:
- raining dust on Saturn's atmosphere
- much of which includes organic molecules
- and trapping an electric charge around the planet

New Scientist has a longer summary: Cassini revealed three big surprises before diving into Saturn

Phys.org has dedicated articles:
Latest insights into Saturn's weird magnetic field only make things weirder
In its final days, Cassini bathed in 'ring rain'
Surprising chemical complexity of Saturn's rings changing planet's upper atmosphere
First results from Cassini's final mission phase show protons of extreme energies between the planet and its dense rings

 

[Joshua Jones]

I saw this earlier today. Very interesting information. I am really curious about the magnetic field aspect, because that seems to require a completely new model.

Also, has anyone come up with a good explanation for the hexagonal storms that doesn't involve alien technology?

 

[Serendipity]

I saw this earlier today. Very interesting information. I am really curious about the magnetic field aspect, because that seems to require a completely new model.

Also, has anyone come up with a good explanation for the hexagonal storms that doesn't involve alien technology?

Yes - to do with jet streams and natural fluid mechanics (fluids = gases + liquids). See Bizarre Giant Hexagon on Saturn May Finally Be Explained

 

[Joshua Jones]

Yes - to do with jet streams and natural fluid mechanics (fluids = gases + liquids). See Bizarre Giant Hexagon on Saturn May Finally Be Explained

That does sound pretty plausible. I wish there were a bit more detail, though, like how precisely the perturbations needed to be arranged. Still, it sounds at least possible.