Saturn's Mysterious Storms: A Century of Ammonia and Explosive Beginnings

New radio observations have revealed that Saturn, despite its dull appearance, experiences powerful storms every 20 to 30 years that alter its chemical compositions for years afterward. These storms, similar to Jupiter's Great Red Spot, make lasting changes to Saturn's atmosphere, including the precipitation of ammonia vapor. Scientists are studying the effects of these storms and hope to further understand the differences between disturbances on Saturn and Jupiter. Radio telescopes are proving useful in revealing variations in Saturn's atmosphere not visible in light.