Post by auntym on Dec 21, 2014 12:05:43 GMT -6
www.space.com/45-uranus-seventh-planet-in-earths-solar-system-was-first-discovered-planet.html?adbid=546439949256368128&adbpl=tw&adbpr=15431856&cmpid=514648_20141220_35903217
Planet Uranus: Facts About Its Name, Moons and Orbit
by Charles Q. Choi, Space.com Contributor
November 18, 2014
Uranus’ tilt essentially has the planet orbiting the Sun on its side, the axis of its spin is nearly pointing at the Sun.
[Pin It] Uranus’ tilt essentially has the planet orbiting the Sun on its side, the axis of its spin is nearly pointing at the Sun.
Credit: NASA and Erich Karkoschka, U. of Arizona
Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun and the first to be discovered by scientists. Although Uranus is visible to the naked eye, it was long mistaken as a star because of the planet’s dimness and slow orbit. The planet is also notable for its dramatic tilt, which causes its axis to point nearly directly at the sun.
British astronomer William Herschel discovered Uranus accidentally on March 13, 1781, with his telescope while surveying all stars down to those about 10 times dimmer than can be seen by the naked eye. One "star" seemed different, and within a year Uranus was shown to follow a planetary orbit.
Uranuswas named after the Greek sky deity Ouranos, the earliest of the lords of the heavens. It is the only planet to be named after a Greek god rather than a Roman one. Before the name was settled on, many names had been proposed for the new planet, including Hypercronius ("above Saturn"), Minerva (the Roman goddess of wisdom), and Herschel, after its discoverer. To flatter King George III of England, Herschel himself offered Georgium Sidus ("The Georgian Planet") as a name, but that idea was unpopular outside of England and George's native Hanover. German astronomer Johann Bode, who detailed Uranus' orbit, gave the planet its ultimate name. [Related: How Do You Pronounce 'Uranus'?]
CONTINUE READING: www.space.com/45-uranus-seventh-planet-in-earths-solar-system-was-first-discovered-planet.html?adbid=546439949256368128&adbpl=tw&adbpr=15431856&cmpid=514648_20141220_35903217
Planet Uranus: Facts About Its Name, Moons and Orbit
by Charles Q. Choi, Space.com Contributor
November 18, 2014
Uranus’ tilt essentially has the planet orbiting the Sun on its side, the axis of its spin is nearly pointing at the Sun.
[Pin It] Uranus’ tilt essentially has the planet orbiting the Sun on its side, the axis of its spin is nearly pointing at the Sun.
Credit: NASA and Erich Karkoschka, U. of Arizona
Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun and the first to be discovered by scientists. Although Uranus is visible to the naked eye, it was long mistaken as a star because of the planet’s dimness and slow orbit. The planet is also notable for its dramatic tilt, which causes its axis to point nearly directly at the sun.
British astronomer William Herschel discovered Uranus accidentally on March 13, 1781, with his telescope while surveying all stars down to those about 10 times dimmer than can be seen by the naked eye. One "star" seemed different, and within a year Uranus was shown to follow a planetary orbit.
Uranuswas named after the Greek sky deity Ouranos, the earliest of the lords of the heavens. It is the only planet to be named after a Greek god rather than a Roman one. Before the name was settled on, many names had been proposed for the new planet, including Hypercronius ("above Saturn"), Minerva (the Roman goddess of wisdom), and Herschel, after its discoverer. To flatter King George III of England, Herschel himself offered Georgium Sidus ("The Georgian Planet") as a name, but that idea was unpopular outside of England and George's native Hanover. German astronomer Johann Bode, who detailed Uranus' orbit, gave the planet its ultimate name. [Related: How Do You Pronounce 'Uranus'?]
CONTINUE READING: www.space.com/45-uranus-seventh-planet-in-earths-solar-system-was-first-discovered-planet.html?adbid=546439949256368128&adbpl=tw&adbpr=15431856&cmpid=514648_20141220_35903217