March 28, 2007: Hexagon on Saturn

BigV · 03-29-2007, 03:08 PM

It's not a sine wave. It's the result of the viscous fluid (the atmosphere) lagging behind the spinning container (the planet)*. The shape is a ... mathematical coincidence. Rather, our perception of some meaningful pattern is the coincidence. The shape is just the math and physics.

* Or just lagging compared to the parts of the atmosphere that are spinning at different rates. Similar phenomena have been observed in the eyes of terrestrial hurricanes. I provided a good link above.

edit: No, I haven't recently returned from a vacation on Saturn, Uranus (or anyone else's for that matter... ha ha)

03-29-2007, 03:08 PM	#29
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	It's not a sine wave. It's the result of the viscous fluid (the atmosphere) lagging behind the spinning container (the planet). The shape is a ... mathematical coincidence. Rather, our perception of some meaningful pattern is the coincidence. The shape is just the math and physics. Or just lagging compared to the parts of the atmosphere that are spinning at different rates. Similar phenomena have been observed in the eyes of terrestrial hurricanes. I provided a good link above. edit: No, I haven't recently returned from a vacation on Saturn, Uranus (or anyone else's for that matter... ha ha) __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

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