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Massive Saturn Storm Seen From Earth

Blizzard 5 times bigger than Snowmageddon

By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff

Posted May 3, 2010 3:53 AM CDT | Updated May 3, 2010 5:40 AM CDT

(Newser) – America's "Snowmageddon" winter storm this year would be no big deal on Saturn, where an ammonia-ice storm at least 5 times larger—so massive and turbulent that amateur astronomers can see it from earth —is currently raging. NASA's Cassini spacecraft, orbiting Saturn, is picking up data from the wild blizzard in the planet's "storm alley," but astronomy enthusiasts back on earth are also taking part in the Saturn storm watch.

"We were so excited to get a heads-up from the amateurs," said a Cassini scientist who received pictures of the storm snapped by an amateur astronomer in Australia. The top layer of the blizzard appears to be powered by violent storms as far as 124 miles beneath, where scientists have spotted lightning, reports the Christian Science Monitor.

In a image provided by NASA, the equinox on Saturn, when the sun's disk was exactly overhead at the planet's equator, is captured by the Cassini orbiter.
In a image provided by NASA, the equinox on Saturn, when the sun's disk was exactly overhead at the planet's equator, is captured by the Cassini orbiter.   (AP Photo/NASA)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
Ivan
Dec 27, 2010 10:24 AM CST
So when Saturnians come to Russia I bet they make fun of silly, weak humans residents.
Box1Car
May 3, 2010 10:19 PM CDT
Solar scientists have found our Sun has been in a deep 100yr "Solar Minimum" (deepest since 1913) Means Solar Constant of ~1KW/sq.M ain't constant and entire solar system suffers loss of solar warming Anyone (except weather media) can surmise this means severe winters throughout the entire solar system
Timinator2K
May 3, 2010 10:21 AM CDT
Damn that George Bush! Now he's phucking up Saturn! HELP SATURN, AL GORE!

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