Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDid Something Massive Smash Into Uranus?
https://gizmodo.com/did-something-massive-smash-into-uranus-1827315511A new paper performs a series of simulations on Uranus early in its history, taking note of what an early impact may have done to its rotation rate, atmosphere, and internal structure. The impact could have left a clear signature still visible inside the planet we see today.
Uranus really is strange. Not only does it rotate on an axis that sits at a 98-degree angle to its orbital plane, but, unlike the other giant planets, it doesnt appear to release more heat than it receives from the Sun. Its magnetic field, too, appears warped compared to the Earths. An impact could perhaps help explain some of these strange traits.
Scientists have been simulating giant impacts into Uranus since the early 1990s, according to the new paper published in the Astrophysical Journal. This time around, researchers built a new simulation with the newest and best available data of the planets composition. This allowed them to model how a giant impactor, perhaps one to three times the mass of Earth, would have deposited material and energy inside Uranus and how much debris would be left over, from which moons could form.
This study provides some great new insights into what might have happened all those billions of years ago, with material left over from the impact possibly even serving to trap some of that heat inside, Leigh Fletcher, Royal Society Research Fellow at the University of Leicester who was not involved in the study told Gizmodo.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
9 replies, 1476 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (7)
ReplyReply to this post
9 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Did Something Massive Smash Into Uranus? (Original Post)
underpants
Jul 2018
OP
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,681 posts)1. I think I'd have noticed.
Sorry, I revert to 4th grade whenever that particular planet is discussed.
Sanity Claws
(21,846 posts)2. Hmmmm
Isnt it more likely that something massive came out of Uranus?
magicarpet
(14,144 posts)6. Ummmm... maybe check....
..... check the bloomers... I mean under pants ?
YessirAtsaFact
(2,064 posts)3. Great question for Trump
After 6 months in prison
Glorfindel
(9,726 posts)4. There are also rings around Uranus, but they are dark and faint
What a strange, mysterious planet! Thanks for posting this, underpants.
Zambero
(8,964 posts)5. It doesn't release more heat than it receives from the sun...
So then, it's not really a matter of Uranus being situated in a location "where the sun don't shine"???
dalton99a
(81,455 posts)7. Uranus really is strange.
It's still a puzzle for proctologists
rusty fender
(3,428 posts)8. LOL!
I thought this was going to be a meme about Trumpass
Aristus
(66,318 posts)9. People who wish to avoid the 'your anus' pronunciation,
usually settle on 'urine us'. That doesn't sound any better...