Astronomy

Saturn's polar vortex may help astronomers understand the planet's atmosphere dynamics

Published in Health and Medicine Week, December 11th, 2006

Cassini's spectacular image of Saturn's polar vortex, published this month by NASA, may provide astronomers with a missing piece in the puzzle of how that planet's atmosphere works. For planetary scientists studying Venus, the image was strangely familiar.

Ever since the late 1970s, scientists have known of a similar polar vortex on Earth's nearest neighbor. For six months now, ESA's Venus Express has been studying this enigmatic atmospheric structure.

NASA's Pioneer Venus spacecraft discovered the north polar vortex over 25 years ago. It is perhaps the most puzzling vortex to be found in the Solar System because it has two 'eyes'.

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Source: Health and Medicine Week (2006-12-11)

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