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Uranus Rotational Tilt
Name: Fred
Status: other
Grade: other
Location: NV
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
I know that current opinion on the cause for the
rotational angle of Uranus is divided. What puzzles me however is
how such a rotation can possibly be maintained along with an orbit
which is quite "normal" in terms of other planets in the solar
system. Spinning a ball, in water or on a surface, with a vertical
alignment, hints at an orbit. Yet rolling a ball, a horizontal type
of spin, does not seem to. Is there an explanation which can be
shown, by diagram, or demonstration? It seems that what is going on
with Uranus, defies either physics or gravity or both.
Replies:
What is happening with the planet Uranus does not defy gravity or any
other branch of physics. It appears that sometime early in Uranus'
life, it was hit by a monstrous object, a protoplanet or something,
that acted as a lever that torqued the growing planet so that it now
rolls about the sky on its side., and has done so ever since . May
have been one, or several impacts that did the job.
Hope this helps.
David H. Levy
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Update: June 2012
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