We Might Finally Know What Smacked Uranus Sideways

[Judi Lynn]

A planet twice the size of Earth gave our most unfortunately named planet its odd tilt.


By John Wenz
Jul 2, 2018

Most planets have poles roughly aligned with the sun's, which we have labeled north and south. Not Uranus. For whatever reason, the seventh planet from the sun has always rolled on its side, throwing off all sorts of strange magnetic activity in the meantime. It's unlikely Uranus was tilted when it formed, and astronomers have struggled to understand the cause.

New research published today in the Astrophysical Journal suggests that Uranus got hit by a planet twice the size of Earth long ago. This collision could have radically changed the planet, resulting in its telltale tilt and making it relatively frigid compared to farther-out Neptune.

Uranus is about 14 times the mass of Earth and around four times more voluminous. Whatever hit Uranus is thought to have been between two or three Earth-masses. Such an object would have been sufficient mass and size to create a big collision, but small enough to strip Uranus of less than 10 percent of its atmosphere.

The object, according to the research, is likely closer to two Earth masses, as this would have kicked up more of the gas and dust that went on to form the inner Uranian moons. Uranus has 27 moons, but 13 of them are considered "inner" moons. Some of the mass from the planet would have been incorporated into Uranus, some went into the moons, and the rest possibly escaped the system entirely.

More:
https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/solar-system/a22023603/we-might-finally-know-what-smacked-uranus-sideways/

[dameatball]

1. I was thinking it may have been a gigantic rolled up intergalactic magazine

[lapfog_1]

2. well, you know our motto

"Things come out a little different at Uranus"

[tparrett62]

5. My inner 14 year old is cracking up

Love me some KFM!

[Judi Lynn]

3. Ancient Uranus may have been struck by a protoplanet with twice the mass of Earth

Anthony Wood
15 minutes ago

According to the results of a new study, Uranus may have survived a dramatic collision with an protoplanet twice or even three times the size of Earth, roughly four billion years ago. The cataclysmic event would explain a number of mysteries surrounding Uranus, including the reason for the dramatic tilt of the gas giant and the formation of its moons.

Uranus is arguably one of the most underrated planets in our solar system, and for good reason. It's probably the most boring to look at, and, because of its unfortunate name, has been made the butt (pun intended) of countless terrible jokes. The last point wasn't helped when, recently, it was confirmed via spectroscopic analysis that the gas giant smells like rotten eggs.

But look past its outwardly dull visage and Uranus really has a lot going for it. For example, Uranus has its own ring system, and plays host to an extended family of fascinating moons, many of which are named for Shakespearean the characters.

It also has the weird factor. Case in point - Uranus is the only planet in our solar system that spins on its side. Astronomers believe that the cause of Uranus' unusual orientation is most likely rooted in the formative period of our solar system.

More:
https://newatlas.com/uranus-protoplanet-collision-earth/55280/

[3catwoman3]

4. Now that Pluto is no longer a planet, can we give...

...that name to Uranus?

No matter how you pronounce it, it just doesn't sound good.

[eppur_se_muova]

6. Direct transliteration from Greek gives Ouranus --

pronounced Oo-rahn-us. Blame the Romans for the change in spelling, and the English for the change in pronunciation.

[NickB79]

7. Ron Jeremy. nt