Uranus just received some new insights into its timekeeping! Recent analysis from Hubble Space Telescope observations suggests that Uranus takes about 17 hours, 14 minutes, and 52 seconds to spin once on its axis. This is 28 seconds longer than previous estimates made by NASA’s Voyager 2 mission nearly 40 years ago.
In January 1986, Voyager 2 was the first spacecraft to visit Uranus. It estimated the planet’s rotation at 17 hours, 14 minutes, and 24 seconds based on readings of its auroras and magnetic fields. This data laid the groundwork for mapping the planet’s surface. However, this estimate was not entirely accurate and led to significant errors in how we understood Uranus’ position in space.
The initial Voyager 2 data had a flaw—it caused a 180-degree mistake in Uranus’ longitude. As a result, scientists lost track of the orientation of its magnetic field just a couple of years later. Coordinating efforts based on that outdated data soon became unreliable.
To clarify these issues, a team led by Laurent Lamy at the Paris Observatory analyzed a decade of Hubble’s data, spanning from 2011 to 2022. By observing the movement of Uranus’ auroras, the team could determine the planet’s magnetic poles and accurately calculate its rotation period.
Lamy emphasized the importance of Hubble’s continuous observations, stating, “Without this wealth of data, it would have been impossible to detect the periodic signal with the level of accuracy we achieved.”
This method not only improves our understanding of Uranus but could be applied to other celestial bodies with auroras and magnetic fields, including exoplanets. It opens doors for future studies in our solar system and beyond.
The updated finding offers a more accurate coordinate system for Uranus, expected to remain valid for many years. This newfound precision could help in planning future missions, including defining orbits and selecting landing sites. According to the team, future explorations will build on this data to gather even more insightful information.
The research is detailed in a study published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
Uranus’ rotation and magnetic activities continue to captivate scientists. With advancements in technology, we are slowly uncovering the mysteries of this distant ice giant, enhancing our overall understanding of the cosmos.
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