What is happening on Saturn? Is this supposed to happen?

Question

November 12, 2008 - Saturn's Mysterious Northern Aurora. 

“We've never seen an aurora like this elsewhere. 
This one covers an enormous area across the pole. Our current ideas
on what forms Saturn's aurorae predict that this region should be empty, 
so finding such a bright one here is a fantastic surprise.”  
- Tom Stallard, U. K. University of Leicester

This new infrared image by the Cassini spacecraft will be reported in the Nov. 13 issue of the journal Nature. One of the contributors is Nick Achilleos, Ph.D., on the Cassini magnetometer team at the University College London. He says, “Saturn's unique auroral features are telling us there is something special and unforeseen about this planet's magnetosphere and the way it interacts with the solar wind and the planet's atmosphere. Trying to explain its origin will no doubt lead us to physics which uniquely operates in the environment of Saturn.”



http://www.earthfiles.com/

racedowling · Accepted Answer

One of the pure joys of science is discovering the unexpected.

quantumclaustrophobe · Answer

Hmmm... I've not read this before.  Saturn *does* have a magnetic field, and can interact with solar particles much the same way they do here on Earth, but I'm wondering if there's some sort of distortion in Saturn's core disrupting it's magnetic field....  I simply don't know.

meanolmaw · Answer

supposed to happen?.... Like we get a choice or get to 'allow' it to happen????.... it's amazing!!... and it's happening!!!... and we don't have a flippin' CLUE WHY!!!... LOL!!!... I love it!!.....NEW physics.... ain't that a hoot?....and here we thought we were gettin' purdy smart already..........

in the article here.....
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/11/12/1671310.aspx

"The auroras on Earth, also known as the northern or southern lights, are sparked by the solar wind. Jupiter's main auroral ring is powered by the planet's own magnetic processes.".... shoot... it's OWN magnetic processes?....well, sure.... it doesn't have that core and molten core and all that spinning magma going on to create a mag field, do it?.... slick!!.... wonder how......something else for you young science buffs to figger out....!!!

maddym6 · Answer

I saw this before also, it is a kind of pentagonal or hexagonal aurora.
I saw it on the program "The Universe" on discovery channel.
It is a great aurora that keeps on moving in a circular path. I even saw its footage.

What is happening on Saturn? Is this supposed to happen?

4 Answers