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Science 9 March 1990:
Vol. 247. no. 4947, pp. 1206 - 1208
DOI: 10.1126/science.247.4947.1206
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Articles

The Rotation Period of Saturn's Polar Hexagon

D. A. Godfrey 1

1 National Optical Astronomy Observatories, Post Office Box 26732, Tucson, AZ 85726

The rotation rates of the interiors of the outer planets are normally derived from their periodic radio emissions. However, recent observations of both Jupiter and Saturn have revealed surface features with periods close to those derived for the interiors. In the study reported here, this process is carried one stage further, with the derivation of a rotation rate for the spot associated with Satum's polar hexagon, which is simultaneously within and more accurate than the Saturnian radio period.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
The Drift of Saturn's North Polar Spot Observed by the Hubble Space Telescope.
J. Caldwell, B. Turgeon, X.-M. Hua, C. D. Barnet, and J. A. Westphal (1993)
Science 260, 326-329
   Abstract »    PDF »
Ground-Based Observations of Saturn's North Polar Spot and Hexagon.
A. Sanchez-Lavega, J. Lecacheux, F. Colas, and P. Laques (1993)
Science 260, 329-332
   Abstract »    PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)