Uranus takes a pounding more frequently than thought

kennyc · 10-08-2011, 09:53 AM

maybe this needs a "adult content" tag.

Uranus isn't just gassy, it's also tilted completely sideways, such that instead of rotating like a spinning top, it rolls around the plane of the solar system more like a giant ball. Now astronomers think they know how this happened, and it means that Uranus has been pounded really, really hard not once, but twice.

Uranus' axial tilt of 98 degrees means that it's got one pole pointed almost directly at the sun, and one pole pointed out into space. As the planet revolves around the sun, these poles slowly switch places, meaning that if you lived there, you'd get 42 years of sunlight followed by 42 years of darkness, with a short time in between where things would seem almost normal.

Needless to say, this sort of behavior is a bit strange for Uranus, although nobody's quite been able to determine how it happened. New simulations from astronomers at the Observatory of Côte d'Azur in Nice, France may have just figured it out, and the answer seems to be that Uranus has suffered from not one but two giant impacts.
more here...
http://dvice.com/archives/2011/10/we-now-know-why.php

MickeyC · 10-08-2011, 10:26 AM

Very interesting. Thanks for posting that.

HomeInMyShoes · 10-08-2011, 10:48 AM

pounded, gassy, Uranus, pole

My delicate sensibilities.

kennyc · 10-08-2011, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

pounded, gassy, Uranus, pole

My delicate sensibilities.

Now, now.

TGS · 10-08-2011, 11:53 AM

Oooh er, missus.

Rainmaker · 10-08-2011, 02:47 PM

You are walking on the edge KennyC ...

wannabee · 10-10-2011, 09:13 AM

Don't be daft. Since 1968 we've known that the Clingons were hanging around Uranus, it was Mister Spock that provided the toilet paper.

MJK2111 · 10-11-2011, 12:37 PM

Dylrob · 10-11-2011, 03:24 PM

No, it just need a prononciation guide. It is the planet "U-RAH-nus".

10-08-2011, 09:53 AM	#1
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Uranus takes a pounding more frequently than thought maybe this needs a "adult content" tag. Uranus isn't just gassy, it's also tilted completely sideways, such that instead of rotating like a spinning top, it rolls around the plane of the solar system more like a giant ball. Now astronomers think they know how this happened, and it means that Uranus has been pounded really, really hard not once, but twice. Uranus' axial tilt of 98 degrees means that it's got one pole pointed almost directly at the sun, and one pole pointed out into space. As the planet revolves around the sun, these poles slowly switch places, meaning that if you lived there, you'd get 42 years of sunlight followed by 42 years of darkness, with a short time in between where things would seem almost normal. Needless to say, this sort of behavior is a bit strange for Uranus, although nobody's quite been able to determine how it happened. New simulations from astronomers at the Observatory of Côte d'Azur in Nice, France may have just figured it out, and the answer seems to be that Uranus has suffered from not one but two giant impacts. more here... http://dvice.com/archives/2011/10/we-now-know-why.php

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10-08-2011, 10:26 AM	#2
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,732 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Very interesting. Thanks for posting that.

10-08-2011, 10:48 AM	#3
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	pounded, gassy, Uranus, pole My delicate sensibilities.

10-08-2011, 11:53 AM	#5
TGS Country Member Posts: 9,058 Karma: 7676767 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Denmark Device: Liseuse: Irex DR800. PRS 505 in the house, and the missus has an iPad.	Oooh er, missus.

10-08-2011, 02:47 PM	#6
Rainmaker Zealot Posts: 103 Karma: 185586 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: Kindle 3G	You are walking on the edge KennyC ...

10-10-2011, 09:13 AM	#7
wannabee Media Bloke Posts: 2,381 Karma: 113956855 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NSW - Australia Device: iOS	Don't be daft. Since 1968 we've known that the Clingons were hanging around Uranus, it was Mister Spock that provided the toilet paper.

10-11-2011, 12:37 PM	#8
MJK2111 FUBAR! Posts: 1,946 Karma: 15018767 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Woodstock, IL Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 S

10-11-2011, 03:24 PM	#9
Dylrob Murderous Mustela Posts: 10,141 Karma: 47366760 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The other land of schnitzel and beer Device: iPad M1 Pro, Kindle Paperwhite	No, it just need a prononciation guide. It is the planet "U-RAH-nus".

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