Uranus Is Being Chased By Asteroids!

universetoday.com ^ | June 18, 2013 | Elizabeth Howell on

[BenLurkin]

As Uranus speeds in its orbit in the solar system, there are three large space rocks that are in lockstep with the gas giant, according to new simulations. Two of them are wobbling in unstable “horseshoe” orbits near Uranus, while the third is in a more reliable Trojan orbit that is always 60 degrees in front of the planet.

The largest of this small group is the asteroid Crantor, which is 44 miles (70 kilometers) wide. Its horseshoe orbit, and that of companion 2010 EU65, means the space rocks seesaw between being close to Uranus and further away. They should stay in that configuration for a few million years.

[aquila48]

” what was William Herschel thinking when he gave this name to our 7th planet?”

Uranus?

[Meshakhad]

By decree of the International Astronomy Society, anyone found guilty of making a bad Uranus pun will be executed.

[doc1019]

He might have been thinking of someone’s anus, not necessarily mine ... I’m not that old. Old, but not that old. LOL!

[CottShop]

why are they called hemorroids and not asteroids?

[DaxtonBrown]

something, something, Klingons!

[Cvengr]

Ουρανυς (translated to English as "Uranus") is the ancient Greek word for heaven or firmament.

That's easily solved with a little Metamucil in your diet.

[Cvengr]

That is why they have renamed Uranus as Urectum!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks BenLurkin.

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[pax_et_bonum]

Ουρανυς (translated to English as "Uranus") is the ancient Greek word for heaven or firmament.

That's easily solved with a little Metamucil in your diet.
__________

A+

:-)

[InvisibleChurch]

Good gravy! Welcome to fourth grade!

[MrB]

Ha...

Free Republic is always ripe for another Uranus thread...

[MrB]

By the way, in case you can't find it:

[JRios1968]

Hole in the ground?

[Verginius Rufus]

Actually, Herschel wanted to name the planet after King George III—”Georgium Sidus” (George’s Star)—but other astronomers insisted on a name from classical mythology, like those of the other planets.

[Berosus]

Actually, I don’t think he named it. I once saw an astronomy book from the late 1700s, and it called the seventh planet “Herschel.”. Apparently somebody came along a while after the discovery and decided the planet should be named after an ancient god, like the others.