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Chapter 14: Problem 6

Describe the seasons on Uranus. In what ways are the Uranian seasons different from those on Earth?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Uranus experiences seasons much like Earth due to its axial tilt, but they are significantly longer (around 21 Earth years) due to its longer orbital period. During solstices, one of Uranus' poles points almost directly at the Sun, leading to one half of the planet experiencing continuous day and the other half continuous night, unlike Earth where day-night cycles continue through all seasons.

Step by step solution

01

Understand Uranian Seasons

Uranus orbited the sun once every 84 Earth years. Therefore, one season on Uranus lasts about 21 Earth years. Uranus has a severe tilt of approximately 98 degrees, nearly onto its side, compared to Earth's 23.5 degrees. Therefore, at solstices, one pole faces the sun continuously while the opposite pole lies in continuous darkness.
02

Compare with Earth Seasons

Earth experiences seasons because of its tilt in relation to the Sun. As we orbit the Sun, at certain times the Sun is shining more directly on the northern or southern hemispheres. This causes the seasonal variations in temperature. However, because Uranus has such an extreme tilt, these effects are much more pronounced.
03

Identify Key Differences

The primary difference between the seasons on Uranus and Earth is duration (21 Earth-years on Uranus compared to 3 months on Earth). Further, the severity of Uranus' tilt causes extreme seasonal differences, with one pole basking in constant sunlight and the other engulfed in lasting darkness at solstices. This differs from Earth where no place experiences continuous sunlight or continuous darkness throughout a season.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Imagine that you are in charge of planning the New Horizons flyby of Pluto and Charon. In your opinion, what data should be collected and what kinds of questions should the mission attempt to answer?

In 2006 the International Astronomical Union changed Pluto's designation from planet to dwarf planet. One criterion that Pluto failed to meet was that a planet must have "cleared the neighborhood" around its orbit. In what sense has Pluto not done so? In what sense have the eight planets (Mercury through Uranus) cleared their neighborhoods? Do you agree with this criterion?

Why are Uranus and Neptune distinctly blue-green in color, while Jupiter or Saturn are not?

Could astronomers in antiquity have seen Uranus? If so, why was it not recognized as a planet?

Suppose you wanted to search for trans-Neptunian objects. Why might it be advantageous to do your observations at infrared rather than visible wavelengths? (Hint: At visible wavelengths, the light we see from planets is reflected sunlight. At what wavelengths would you expect distant planets to emit their own light most strongly? Use Wien's law to calculate the wavelength range best suited for your search.) Could such observations be done at an observatory on the Earth's surface? Explain.
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