It’s not made-up. It’s not sci-fi. And no, it’s not a crop circle.

From far away, Saturn is calm and elegant — a golden planet with rings that sparkle like a cosmic hula hoop.

But zoom in on its north pole, and you’ll find something seriously strange:
A storm shaped like a perfect hexagon.

That’s six sides. Six corners.
Spinning endlessly in the clouds.

So… what is it?
Why does it have corners?
And how is it even real?

Let’s investigate one of the solar system’s weirdest weather systems.

The Basics: What Are We Looking At?

The hexagon is a massive cloud pattern — big enough to fit two Earths inside.
It sits directly over Saturn’s north pole, spinning like a record.

Scientists first saw it when NASA’s Voyager 1 flew by in the 1980s.
Then Cassini confirmed it with crystal-clear images in the 2000s.

And here’s what they found:

• It’s 20,000 miles wide
• It spins about once every 10 hours (Saturn’s day length)
• And it’s been there for decades — possibly centuries

But the weirdest part?
It’s not a storm with circular swirls like a hurricane.
It’s a shape. A hexagon. In clouds.

What Could Cause a Hexagon in the Sky?

One theory is that it’s a type of standing wave — like the patterns you see when you wiggle a jump rope that’s tied at both ends.

In Saturn’s case, super-fast winds moving at over 300 mph circle the pole.
If the speeds and angles are just right, those winds can create a stable, repeating pattern — like a frozen whirlpool that locks itself into six sides.

Scientists have even recreated similar patterns in the lab, using water tanks, spinning fluids, and rotating plates.

So… no aliens.
Just very complicated weather.

But still — why six sides?
Why is it so perfectly shaped?
That’s the mystery. Even today, scientists don’t fully understand how it forms — or why it stays that way.

Is It Dangerous?

Only if you’re a spaceship trying to hang out near Saturn’s pole.

The hexagon includes high-speed winds, multiple storm systems, and swirling gases that move faster than most Earth tornadoes.

But the shape itself?
It’s not solid. It’s not sharp.
It’s just… the universe showing off a bit.

Still Wondering?

• Could other planets have shaped storms like this?
• What would a square storm or triangle storm look like — and is it possible?
• Would the hexagon still form if Saturn’s spin slowed down?

Talk About It at Dinner

“If a storm could have a shape… what shape would you give it — and what would it do?”

Let kids blend creativity with science and invent their own planetary weather systems.

Want to Discover More Space Secrets?

Our QUIETLY CLEVER Trivia Book of Space Wonders includes out-of-this-world questions about moons, storms, planets, and everything in between. Great for curious kids who ask the questions adults can’t always answer.