#autumn/winter 2025

[bruttoarchives]

ann demeulemeester autumn/winter 2024

[breelandwalker]

In case anyone is wondering....

"When does the full moon next coincide with...."

Candlemas / Imbolc - February 2026

Leap Day - February 2048

Vernal Equinox - March 2038

Beltane / Mayday - May 2025

Summer Solstice - June 2062

Lughnasadh / Lammas - August 2042

Autumnal Equinox - September 2029

Halloween / Samhain - October 2039

Winter Solstice - December 2094

"When is the next blue moon?"

August 19, 2024 (seasonal)

May 31, 2026 (calendar)

May 20, 2027 (seasonal)

December 31, 2028 (calendar) - plus total lunar eclipse

August 24, 2029 (seasonal)

August 21, 2032 (seasonal)

May 22, 2035 (seasonal)

January 31, 2037 (calendar) - plus total lunar eclipse

(Phases calculated for Northern Hemisphere and are subject to slight changes by time zone. Southern Hemisphere dates may vary.)

[Sources: The Old Farmer's Almanac, Everyday Calculation, Wikipedia, Forbes.]

[53v3nfrn5]

Yohji Yamamoto: Pour Homme Autumn/Winter (2024/2025)

[blouisparadise]

Here are some great bottom Louis fics that were posted or completed during the month of February. We really hope you enjoy this list. Happy reading!

1) A Little Bit Of You | Teen & Up | 2,301 words

Louis is a cute omega who loves autumn and baking cupcakes. However, when he goes to the supermarket to get the last ingredient for his recipe, strawberry jam, he meets Harry, a grumpy alpha who is unwilling to hand over the last jar.

2) I'm Gonna Love You Forever And Ever | Mature | 3,059 words

Louis is independent, he is a free omega, except when he is with his alpha, then he just wants to be held and taken care of.

3) Can't Get My Fill, So I'll Take Yours | Explicit | 2,558 words

Harry's grip remains tight despite Louis’s scrabbling attempts to get him to release his oversensitive, twitching dick. Cum drips between their fingers, making it slick, and impossible to dislodge Harry, who has pinned Louis’ right hand to the pillow. When he can no longer fight, Louis collapses back against the mattress, hand dropping to his side in defeat. He’s still hard from the constant stimulation, but he’s so sensitive. Once he stops fighting, Harry slows his pace, guiding Louis' limp, free hand up until he can pin his wrists to the pillow with one hand. It’s so much, and he forces his eyes open, looking down to see drops of cum dripping out of his cock, forced out of him by Harry’s unforgiving dick and hand. “Harry, I can’t take it, it’s too much.” “You can take it, and I’m gonna fuck you until I feel like stopping.” Louis moans, going limp again rather than resisting this time. “Good boy. Letting me fuck you like a toy for my own pleasure while I see how many times I can make you cum before you pass out.

4) Started Off With Some Birthday Sex | Explicit | 3,669 words

When Harry gets woken up at the exact moment he turns thirty, Louis makes sure to start off his birthday with a bang.

5) The Prints Of Your Hands Are Still On My Canvas | Not Rated | 4,563 words

Harry and Louis broke up not long ago. Everything was fine until then, problems started with Louis’ heat just around the corner, an important presentation that he could not miss, and a very visible (or more like invisible) alpha that could help him go through his heat. And then Harry shows up. (Again.)

6) Be Brave With Me | Mature | 4,834 words

Harry is out as gay and has been out for a while, and his best friend Louis has always supported him. The green-eyed man knew that Louis was closeted and was scared to come out, of course, Louis doesn't know that Harry knows who he truly wants to be. It's the middle of June and Harry convinces Louis to go to a pride parade, what happens when Louis and Harry get separated and Louis find himself surrounded by homophobic protesters?

7) Home (You'll Never Feel Like You're Alone I'll Make This Feel Like Home) | Explicit | 4,937 words

Louis has been busy all of February and so has Harry. Harry's teaching not just his own, but also his colleague's year one class after her fall. It's been two weeks and the school is yet to find a substitute teacher for her class. Harry's worked to the bone, stressed out of his mind, and on top of it all Louis was also barely home. The only respite for Harry is winter half-term starting Friday February 14th 2025. And of course Louis coming home early to surprise Harry with dinner and a bath.

8) Everywhere, Everything | Explicit | 6,924 words

"Uhm- so I was wondering if maybe…maybe you could braid my hair?”

9) Your Love Was Handmade (For Somebody Like Me) | Explicit | 12,608 words

Note: This fic is locked and can only be read by AO3 users.

Harry looked up from his phone when he heard the clicking of heels stop at the table. He smiled kindly at the hostess and then his eyes travelled to the man behind her. His smile faltered at the sight of Louis in front of him. “Yeah, not gonna happen,” Harry said and started to get out of the booth. “Harry, please. Don’t go,” Louis pleaded and stood so Harry couldn’t get out. “I’m not going to be made a fool again, Louis. You had your fun, now let’s forget it ever happened.”

10) The Unsuccessful Promise | Teen & Up | 15,204 words

At the end of the previous school year, Louis swore to everyone that he would return in the fall as an alpha. He made this promise especially to his arch-nemesis Harry Styles, who has already presented as an alpha himself. Unfortunately over summer break, the worst thing possible happens: Louis presents as an omega. Now school is back in session and he has to return and face the consequences of pre-determining his status. Featuring Liam and Zayn as Louis' doting and exasperated parents.

11) The Royalty’s Game | General Audiences | 19,390 words

“There is no ritual other than the King Harry Styles having a Family line.” “I promised my dead wife to love her until I stop breathing.” Harry spit angrily. “This is the only way to stop the Night storm.” The Avatar of Khonsu said worriedly.

12) Gemini Rising | Explicit | 23,389 words

Louis might as well give it a shot. Maybe - just maybe - if he starts crossing boundaries in the same reckless way Harry does, that lunatic will get the message. So he starts invading Harry's space any way he can think of. He bites on his toast while Harry is speaking, he tears his morning tea out of his hold and he only hands him back the mug when it's empty, he steals half of his boxer briefs, he walks into the bathroom while Harry is peeing, he even uses his toothbrush right in front of him. When Harry's phone buzzes, Louis dives his hand into his pocket and he reads his texts out loud. When Harry's sleeping, Louis shoves his door open and asks him if he wants a snack. Louis is really trying. Like, really, really trying. Too bad it's not working.

13) Drop And Draws - What A Feeling | Mature | 50,020 words

Ever since he presented as an Alpha, Harry can't stop drawing the same person over again. Louis, since long before he presented as an Omega, has always had behavioural problems... When Niall sees one of Harry's drawings, it becomes clear that these two must meet, and quickly. Everything should be easy, shouldn't it? Except, perhaps, Louis is on the other side of the Atlantic, firmly attached to Ricky…

Check out our other fic rec lists by category here and by title here.

You can find other monthly roundup fic rec lists here.

[cosmicanger]

ann demeulemeester autumn/winter 2025, detail

[olemisekunst]

Zawe Ashton, Street Style During London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2024-2025

[an-s-sedai]

WoT Season 3 filming has wrapped!

[misspaoline]

Video of Matt Bomer, gorgeous as always, arriving at the Loewe Autumn/Winter 2024-2025 show for Paris Fashion Week

[breaniebree]

Kismet Characters & Family Trees Part Thirteen:

Sirius Black (3 November 1959) GRYFFINDOR m. Zahira Zacarias (7 April 1964) NA (1999): 1. Harry Potter (31 July 1980) GRYFFINDOR m. Ginevra Weasley (11 August 1981) GRYFFINDOR (2000): i) James “Jamie” Sirius Potter GRYFFINDOR (5 April 2004) m. Hadley Grace Pritchard (2005) RAVENCLAW (2029): a) Rhysand James Potter (28 May 2032) GRYFFINDOR b) Emerson Fleamont Potter (11 March 2035) GRYFFINDOR c) Flynn Harry Potter (2 July 2037) GRYFFINDOR d) Grace Ginevra Potter (18 December 2040) GRYFFINDOR ii) Albus “Alby” Fleamont Potter (1 June 2006) SLYTHERIN m. Scorpius Malfoy (6 January 2006) SLYTHERIN (2031): a) Lyra Astoria Malfoy (1 June 2037) RAVENCLAW b) Celeste Ginevra Malfoy (5 March 2039) RAVENCLAW c) Archer Kai Malfoy (6 July 2044) SLYTHERIN iii) Lily Luna Potter (3 November 2007) GRYFFINDOR m. Oakley Wood (8 January 2007) GRYFFINDOR (2028): a) Nash Oliver Wood (31 July 2030) GRYFFINDOR m. Nixie Sparks (2032) RAVENCLAW (2058): aa) Sirius Harry Wood (25 December 2061) GRYFFINDOR bb) Remus Oakley Wood (25 December 2061) GRYFFINDOR b) Noah Harry Wood (31 July 2030) GRYFFINDOR  c) Magnolia “Lia” Katherine Wood (2 May 2033) RAVENCLAW d) Zinnia “Zin” Ginevra Wood (11 August 2035) HUFFLEPUFF  e) Zahira “Zee” Sorcha Wood (11 August 2035) HUFFLEPUFF iv) Cedrella “Ella” Theodora Potter (21 October 2010) SLYTHERIN m. Spencer Kane-Nott (3 July 2010) SLYTHERIN (2036): a) Logan Theodore Kane-Nott (23 March 2040) GRYFFINDOR b) Zeke Harry Kane-Nott (21 January 2042) SLYTHERIN  c) Nolan Everett Kane-Nott (11 November 2044) RAVENCLAW d) Westley Sebastian Kane-Nott (9 December 2046) GRYFFINDOR v) Everett Arthur Potter (21 October 2010) RAVENCLAW m. Xara Scamander (13 September 2016) RAVENCLAW (2039): a) Hazel Ella Potter (2 September 2040) HUFFLEPUFF  b) Galina Xara Potter (28 April 2042) RAVENCLAW  c) Landon Everett Potter (19 June 2044) GRYFFINDOR d) Waverly Luna Potter (7 February 2046) RAVENCLAW vi) Genevieve “Evie” Zahira Potter (9 May 2012) HUFFLEPUFF m. Christian Lyon (2008) RAVENCLAW (2033): a) Leif Christian Lyon (1 October 2035) GRYFFINDOR b) Autumn Ella Lyon (21 September 2038) HUFFLEPUFF c) Winter Willow Lyon (21 December 2041) RAVENCLAW d) Summer Lily Lyon (21 June 2043) GRYFFINDOR e) Spring Rose Lyon (21 March 2047) HUFFLEPUFF vii) Henry Remus Potter (31 July 2020) GRYFFINDOR m. Daniella Zabini (7 July 2018) RAVENCLAW (2049): a) Cameron Blaise Potter (1 January 2052) GRYFFINDOR b) Aidan Hunter Potter (23 July 2055) GRYFFINDOR  c) Jameson Henry Potter (14 March 2058) GRYFFINDOR  d) Emilia Ginevra Potter (17 August 2060) RAVENCLAW viii) Hunter Colten Potter (31 July 2020) GRYFFINDOR m. Sloane Hart (2023) GRYFFINDOR (2046): a) Simon Hunter Potter (14 February 2049) RAVENCLAW b) Shay Cedrella Potter (14 February 2049) HUFFLEPUFF  c) Colin Fleamont Potter (7 March 2053) GRYFFINDOR  d) Beckett James Potter (19 June 2055) HUFFLEPUFF  e) Parker Harry Potter (24 September 2059) SLYTHERIN f) Noelle Ginevra Potter (25 December 2061) GRYFFINDOR

2. Minerva “Mina” Euphemia Magnolia Black (31 December 1996) GRYFFINDOR  m. Grayson Goyle (28 September 1997) HUFFLEPUFF (2017):a) Zelena Minerva Goyle (26 December 2019) GRYFFINDOR m. Katerina Baxter (7 March 2015) GRYFFINDOR (2040): i) Erica Goyle-Baxter (2043) GRYFFINDOR ii) Antonia Goyle-Baxter (2043) HUFFLEPUFF b) Ariel Sorcha Goyle (3 April, 2021) HUFFLEPUFF m. Philip Davenport (2017) RAVENCLAW  (2047): i) Siri Davenport (2049) SLYTHERIN ii) Gregory Davenport (2051) RAVENCLAW c) Helia Marguerite Goyle (14 February 2023) RAVENCLAW m. Henry Rawlings (2008) RAVENCLAW (2048): i) Julius Rawlings (2052) RAVENCLAW d) Orion Sirius Goyle (6 September 2025) SLYTHERIN 3. Leonardo “Leo” Mikhail Sirius Black (31 December 1996) SLYTHERIN  m. Aydin Weasley (1 December 1996) GRYFFINDOR (2018): a) Colten Raleigh Black (4 March 2020) SLYTHERIN m. Florencia Fazio NA (2022) (2045): i) Misha Black (2049) HUFFLEPUFF ii) Leonardo Black (2051) GRYFFINDOR  iii) Raleigh Black (2053) RAVENCLAW b) Bram Charles Black (27 August 2022) GRYFFINDOR m. Rebecca Higgins (2028) HUFFLEPUFF (2051): i) Zoe Black (2054) HUFFLEPUFF ii) Cadence Black (2057) GRYFFINDOR c) Jordan Arthur Black (6 February 2024) GRYFFINDOR m. Jaya Mukherjee (2022) RAVENCLAW (2055): i) Ari Black (2058) RAVENCLAW d) Jackson Sirius Black (22 October 2026) GRYFFINDOR m. Deanna Finnigan (31 January 2026) HUFFLEPUFF (2055): i) Norah Edwina Black (2060) HUFFLEPUFF e) Zayn Harry Black (4 November 2029) GRYFFINDOR m. Nari Chung (2028) SLYTHERIN (2052): i) Dal-Rae Black (2054) RAVENCLAW ii) Ayla Black (2057) GRYFFINDOR iii) Hana Black (2060) HUFFLEPUFF f) Nova Molly Black (3 June 2033) RAVENCLAW m. Nick Buckingham (2028) GRYFFINDOR (2057): i) Maverick Buckingham (2059) GRYFFINDOR ii) Micah Buckingham (2061) RAVENCLAW g) Nevra Charlotte Black (3 June 2033) GRYFFINDOR m. Wyatt Williams (2025) GRYFFINDOR (2054): i) Walker Williams (2059) SLYTHERIN ii) Wilder Williams (2061) GRYFFINDOR

Thanks to @ellieoryan7447 for taking the time and effort to create these!

[empyrealgrl]

Ready for a Chappell Roan spring, summer, autumn, winter and 2025 onward ☺️

[the-empress-7]

I have been looking at astrological sites discussing both the King’s chart and Prince William chart.

From one of them:

“Autumn is another big pulse point for the Prince. The eclipsed New Moon on his Mars in statesman-like Libra expands his reach in the world," she continued, adding: "October is going to be a power month for the Prince and Princess of Wales. The autumn and winter ready William for 2025 which continues to raise his star.

And I am wondering if we might not see a second Regency.

I have seen some astrologers say he might become King in 2025.

[bruttoarchives]

the row autumn/winter 2024 collection

[breelandwalker]

Sturgeon Moon - August 1, 2023

Buckle up, witches - with two supermoons in store, August is gonna be a wild ride!

Sturgeon Supermoon - August 1, 2023

The Sturgeon Moon is the name given to the first full moon in August. The name comes from the plentiful numbers of sturgeon which appear around this time of year.

Sturgeons are living prehistoric relics, examples of which appear in the fossil record as far back as 200 million years ago. Today, they are endangered due to overfishing, pollution, and habitat loss, but giant sturgeons growing up to 12ft (3.65m) long were once a common sight in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain in North America.

Other North American Indigenous names for this moon include Flying Up Moon (Cree), Corn Moon (Algonquin and Ojibwe), Harvest Moon (Dakota), Dry Moon (Catawba), Mountain Shadows Moon (Tlingit), and Black Cherries Moon (Assiniboine). European names for this moon include Haymaking Moon (Norse), Lightning Moon (English), and Grain Moon (Anglo-Saxon).

It's also interesting to note that in China, the seventh full moon of the lunar year is called the Hungry Ghost Moon, during which spirits of departed ancestors visit their relatives and homes, and trickster spirits may cause mayhem among the living if not properly appeased. Food offerings and incense are put out for ancestor spirits, families visit gravesites to offer prayers and site maintenance, and festival dances and floating lanterns celebrate the honored dead. In 2023, the Hungry Ghost Moon month will take place from August 16th to September 14th, beginning and ending on the new moons.

Blue Supermoon - August 30, 2023

Blue moons can occur when a full moon appears twice in a calendar month or four times in a season, as opposed to the usual three. August's Blue Supermoon is an example of the former, falling on the night of August 30-31 and peaking around 9:36pm EST.

This blue supermoon is especially notable, since it's the closest that our beloved satellite has been so far this year. The next time the moon will be this close to Earth again will be November 5, 2025, and we won't see another Blue Moon until August 19, 2024.

What Does It Mean For Witches?

Both blue moons and supermoons are particularly advantageous times for spellwork, especially that which involves the fulfillment of goals, desires, and wishes, or the culmination of long-term plans. It's also a great time to start new projects and set new goals for the fall and winter.

Blue moons carry your magical workings forward with a little dash of extra strength and vigor, and may provide extra clarity during divination or reflection. It's also the perfect time for spells related to second chances and abundance, drawing in that much-needed do-over or extra bit of luck or prosperity you've been needing.

What Witchy Things Can We Do?

In August, we harvest one set of crops and sow another, reaping the rewards of our previous efforts and planting the seeds of future success. Look back on the magical workings you've done so far this year - how are they working out? Have any of your spells manifested in especially notable results? Go back and add to your notes, making sure to record anything that worked particularly well.

Evaluate your progress and reflect on what you want to carry forward and what you might need to put on hold or just let go for the time being. If you're partial to divination, a reading may help to provide some additional clarity on your current status, as well as some perspective on the possibilities for the near future.

Celebrate the harvest of grain and corn with your favorite recipes or a summer picnic. This year's August moon falls on Lughnasadh, also called Lammas, and the baking of bread and corn cakes are traditional for this occasion. But don't just limit yourself to corn and wheat! Late summer fruits are also ripe and make a tasty addition to any table.

Set your intentions and your goals for the latter part of the year and start preparing for the autumn and winter. It may seem silly to prepare for the cold when the weather is still blazing hot, but it will be here before you know it. Take time for one more summer beach trip or camping excursion before the hustle and bustle of the fall sets in.

The observation of the blue moon as a magical occasion is a modern addition to witchcraft, but the lack of antiquity doesn't mean there's any shortage of metaphysical potential!

Dive into your stash of blue clothes and accessories for some color magic. (Blue is generally associated with peace, harmony, understanding, clarity, and truth.) Set out a big jug of potable water to catch the light of these double supermoons - it will be great for cleansing, protection, wish-making, and drinkable potion bases later!

All in all, August is supercharged with lunar energy and primed for magical workings, so make your spells count!

Happy Sturgeon Moon, witches! 🌕🐟

Further Reading:

Additional Lunar Calendar posts by Bree NicGarran

Sturgeon Full and Blue Moon: August 2023, The Old Farmer's Almanac.

Sturgeon Moon 2023: The Unique Supermoon Meaning of August, The Peculiar Brunette.

Blue Moon Meaning and Astonishing Spiritual Secrets in 2023, The Peculiar Brunette.

Hungry Ghost Festival, China Travel, June 20 2023.

Sturgeon, Wikipedia Article.

Lughnasadh, Wikipedia Article.

Everyday Moon Magic: Spells & Rituals for Abundant Living, Dorothy Morrison, Llewellyn Publications, 2004.

Image Credit: "Leaping Gulf Sturgeon," by Dawn Witherington

(If you're enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)

[thesweetnessofspring]

For the WIPS - I know it said one title, but I couldn't narrow it down! If you just do one, The Huntress and the Beast, please! 😊

The Huntress and the Beast

Threads that run so truly

New Heart

The Huntress and the Beast answered here. :)

Threads that run so truly : This originally came from something I wanted to put in Sing You Back Home. I came across an American folk song called Needle's Eye (I specifically found the one that Burl Ives sang) and wanted to incorporate a version of it into a D12 dance, but it didn't fit right into Sing You Back Home like I'd imagined. I still loved the idea of using the song as a dance, though, so I started a two-chapter fic of a no-Games, in-Panem Everlark AU where this song/dance is their icebreaker meeting. I was going to have it done for Christmas this year, but time slipped away as I worked on other projects. I have the idea to use this for a Harvest Festival or New Year dance, so I'll probably be working on it in summer to have it ready for autumn/early winter.

New Heart : This is an idea still marinating around in my head, so the file is pretty sparse so far. It's a modern Everlark AU, where Prim died a few years before and Katniss is still spiraling from grief and unable to get her life put back in order. Then Peeta comes into her life. He's incredibly kind and optimistic and they become friends. Not sure how much of this I want to give away yet, so I'm keeping some details on it closed until I figure that out! I'm picturing it novella-length and I would really love to have it ready for February 2025.

Thanks for playing the WIP ask game with me! 😊

[hollowdeath]

about me!

my name's lilly, i'm 22, & i'm from midwest america.

i'm currently in school getting my BFA in photography & digital media with a minor in art history & plan on graduating with honors in 2025 ! after that i hope to get my masters in photography & work for myself.

obviously i love photography & design, but some of my other hobbies include painting, cooking/baking, reading, writing, & scrapbooking/collaging.

however, my main (favorite) hobby is harry potter!

i also have an editing account on tiktok!

ALL pictures i post are not mine, they are from pinterest.

i mainly use tumblr mobile 📲

some silly facts about me if you care !

infp + cancer/libra/cap + gryffinpuff = always crying

favorite colors are dark green, burnt orange, maroon, mustard yellow, & other autumnals

fall/winter supremacy

i have a cat named jay with a stubby tail !!

i've been with my partner for 7 years & he's the best <3

other random hyper-fixations i've had/have: spiderman, criminal minds/spencer reid, twilight, dan & phil, billie eilish, south park, family guy, garfield

i've been on (& off) tumblr since 2012!

i love music, some of my favorite artists include billie eilish, tyler the creator, mac miller, amy winehouse, nirvana, korn, smashing pumpkins, mitski, the 1975, slipknot, paramore, & tame impala. i also love classical music and jazz, so i typically have those genres on shuffle at any time of the day. message me for my spotify/stats.fm!

i love horror movies, my favorites are creep/creep 2, sinister, the vvitch, hereditary, and, of course, the saw movies

other movies i love that aren't harry potter or horror: the basketball diaries, whiplash, interstellar, edward scissorhands, the nightmare before christmas, forrest gump, shawshank redemption, & napoleon dynamite <3

if you'd like to follow me on my personal social media accounts, just message me! i'd love to make some friends here <3

thank you!

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

New Saturn images show a change of seasons – and a last glimpse of its huge, warm polar vortex

New observations of Saturn by University of Leicester planetary scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) of the famous ringed planet

While the UK has been experiencing warm autumnal weather, a team of planetary scientists has found that Saturn’s late northern summer is experiencing a cooling trend, as huge planetary-scale flows of air have reversed direction as autumn approaches.

The new observations have also provided a last glimpse of Saturn’s north pole, with its enormous warm vortex filled with hydrocarbon gases, before the pole begins to recede into the darkness of polar winter.

This interplanetary weather report is thanks to new images analysed by a team led by the University of Leicester from the JWST and published in JGR:Planets. They have provided new insights into the changing seasons on the massive outer planet, famous for its icy rings.

Like Earth, Saturn has an axial tilt and experiences seasons in the same way. However, Saturn takes 30 years to orbit the Sun, so the seasons last for 7.5 Earth-years. Northern-hemisphere summer on both worlds is now coming to an end. While Earth is heading for northern autumn equinox in September, Saturn is heading for northern autumn equinox in 2025, which means the north poles of both planets are heading for extended periods of polar winter.

The Leicester team used the MIRI instrument on JWST to study Saturn’s atmosphere in infrared light, which allows them to measure the temperatures, gaseous abundances, and clouds from the churning cloud tops to regions high in the atmosphere known as the stratosphere.  The MIRI instrument splits the infrared light into its component wavelengths allowing scientists to see the fingerprints of the rich variety of chemicals within a planet’s atmosphere.

In the image, created by combining just a few of the wavelengths observed by MIRI, the bright thermal emission from the north pole stands out in blue.  The warm 1500-km wide north polar cyclone (NPC), which was first observed by the Cassini mission, can be seen at the north pole.  This is surrounded by a broader region of warm gases called the north-polar stratospheric vortex (NPSV), which formed in Saturnian spring and has persisted throughout its northern summer.

These are warm vortices high in the stratosphere, heated by the sun’s warmth during Saturn’s long summer season.  As autumn equinox approaches in 2025, the north polar stratospheric vortex will begin cooling down and will disappear as the northern hemisphere recedes into the darkness of autumn.

By modelling the mid-infrared spectra, the scientists noticed that the distributions of stratospheric temperatures and gases at this particular point in Saturn’s seasonal cycle were rather different to those observed by the Cassini mission during northern winter and spring.  Saturn has a large-scale stratospheric circulation pattern with warmer temperatures and excess hydrocarbons, like ethane and acetylene, in the northern midlatitudes in winter, signifying sinking of hydrocarbon-rich air from above. Air was thought to rise in the southern summer midlatitudes, cross the equator, and sink into the northern winter midlatitudes. 

The MIRI Medium-Resolution Spectrometer results taken in November 2022 revealed that this stratospheric circulation has now reversed and cool stratospheric temperatures and low hydrocarbon abundances are seen in the north between 10oN and 40oN, suggesting upwelling of hydrocarbon-poor air in the summer, which will then be flowing towards the south. 

Professor Leigh Fletcher, from the University of Leicester School of Physics and Astronomy, said: “The quality of the new data from JWST is simply breath-taking – in one short set of observations, we’ve been able to continue the legacy of the Cassini mission into a completely new Saturnian season, watching how the weather patterns and atmospheric circulation respond to the changing sunlight. 

“JWST can see in wavelengths of light that were inaccessible to any previous spacecraft, producing an exquisite dataset that whets the appetite for the years to come. This work on Saturn is just the first of a programme of observations of all four giant planets, and JWST is providing a capability beyond anything we’ve had in the past – if we can get so many new findings from a single observation of a single world, imagine what discoveries await?”

Saturn was chosen as an early target for JWST as a test of its capabilities. Dr Oliver King, a postdoctoral researcher in Leicester’s School of Physics and Astronomy, explained:  “Because it is big, bright, rotating, and moving across the sky, it provides a challenge for the small fields-of-view of the MIRI instrument – MIRI can only see a small area of Saturn at any one time, and we’re at risk of saturating the detectors because the planet is so bright compared to JWST’s usual targets. The observations were taken as three tiles, stepping from the equator to the north pole, and then out to the rings for a final tile.” 

Professor Fletcher adds: “We started designing these Saturn observations more than 8 years ago, so when that first data landed in late 2022, it was certainly a career highlight:  the Leicester team of planetary scientists crammed around a computer screen, astonished by the quality of the new data, and maybe sipping some sparkling wine to celebrate.  It would not have been possible without the wider team of experts that contributed to the Saturn programme, especially the folks at Space Telescope who put up with our endless questions and problems as we dealt with all the challenges of a brand-new telescope.

“No spacecraft has ever been present to explore Saturn’s late northern summer and autumn before, so we hope that this is just the starting point, and that JWST can continue the legacy of Cassini into the coming decade.”

IMAGE....Montage of JWST MIRI/MRS observations of Saturn in November 2022, requiring four tiles to study Saturn’s northern hemisphere and rings. MIRI is sensitive primarily to temperature; Saturn’s colours are a combination of blue (11.6 µm, which senses stratospheric temperature), green (10.1 µm, a probe of upper tropospheric temperature) and red (10.3 µm, sensing lower tropospheric temperature) using MIRI’s MRS Channel 2. The rings use a different combination of filters: blue (13.5 µm), green (14.6 µm) and red (15.5 µm) from MRS Channel 3, which provides a slightly wider field of view. A Hubble visible-light observation, acquired in September 2022, is shown in the background for comparison. Credit: NASA, ESA, and Amy Simon (NASA-GSFC); Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)).