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Spotlight on Uranus (It's Getting Closer)
Globe and Mail ^ | August 27, 2004 | Michael Kesterton

Posted on 08/27/2004 7:26:04 AM PDT by Loyalist

If Uranus seems closer this evening, it is. Today, the planet (its name is pronounced you-rah-nus) is at its closest point to Earth, only 1.77 billion miles away -- 19 times the distance from the Earth to the sun. Patient people with binoculars can find this blue-green world in Aquarius. Some notes:

Once you know which dot of light is Uranus, you might be able to find it with your eyes alone -- but only if you have excellent vision and a clear, dark sky away from city light pollution, says Newsday. Next week, once the moon is out of the way, give it a shot.

In 1781, Sir William Herschel discovered Uranus and named it Georgium Sidus (George's Star) in honour of George III. The French preferred to call the planet Herschel. German astronomer, Johann Bode, Herschel's contemporary, proposed that the mythological associations of the outer planets be continued by naming it Uranus, after the grandfather of Zeus.

At the time of Sir William's discovery, several northern constellations had names that might be associated with politicians or rulers: Gloria Fredrici (the sceptre of Fredrick the Great) and Globus Aerostaticus (the hot-air balloon).


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: astronomy; greatheadline; moonsofuranus; ringarounduranus; space; uranus
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To: Loyalist

For a minute, I thought this was a thread about colon health.


21 posted on 08/27/2004 7:36:55 AM PDT by Stag (Kerry, Lenin, Chirac - which one doesn't belong? Kerry. The others love their country.)
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To: Loyalist

Hold everything, stand up move away from the table, this should help. As in the past I heard where Uranus has appeared closer and closer for some viewers, oh the horror.


22 posted on 08/27/2004 7:37:02 AM PDT by cav68
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To: Loyalist

"Uranus is getting closer"

Your cracked.


23 posted on 08/27/2004 7:39:16 AM PDT by Stag (Kerry, Lenin, Chirac - which one doesn't belong? Kerry. The others love their country.)
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To: Mr Ramsbotham

Could be if one is not tidy


24 posted on 08/27/2004 7:39:24 AM PDT by cav68
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To: dirtboy

25 posted on 08/27/2004 7:40:07 AM PDT by itsamelman (“Announcing your plans is a good way to hear God laugh.” -- Al Swearengen)
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To: Loyalist

26 posted on 08/27/2004 7:40:20 AM PDT by alnitak ("That kid's about as sharp as a pound of wet liver" - Foghorn Leghorn)
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To: Riley

LOL!!!

Bump. ;^)


27 posted on 08/27/2004 7:40:36 AM PDT by headsonpikes (Spirit of '76 bttt!)
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To: Loyalist

Reminds me of the Rodney Dangerfield joke I read a day or two ago.

"I'm so ugly that on my last check-up my proctologist stuck his finger in my mouth"


28 posted on 08/27/2004 7:42:04 AM PDT by Rebelbase (John Kerry, sign form 180 .)
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To: Loyalist

Q. What do toilet paper and the Star Trek Enterprise have in common?





A. Both circle Uranus in search of Klingons.


29 posted on 08/27/2004 7:42:33 AM PDT by itsamelman (“Announcing your plans is a good way to hear God laugh.” -- Al Swearengen)
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To: headsonpikes

Others can't distinguish it from a hole in the ground.

Should have added that, didn't think of it. :-)


30 posted on 08/27/2004 7:42:39 AM PDT by Riley (Need an experienced computer tech in the DC Metro area? I'm looking. Freepmail for details.)
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To: Loyalist

31 posted on 08/27/2004 7:44:08 AM PDT by Rebelbase (John Kerry, sign form 180 .)
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To: Loyalist

Stop that! It's getting altogether too silly.


32 posted on 08/27/2004 7:45:08 AM PDT by Constitution Day (Now with 23% more sarcasm than last year's Freeper!)
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To: Mr Ramsbotham

Ring around Uranus?


33 posted on 08/27/2004 7:45:15 AM PDT by johnb838 (Deconstruct the libsocs)
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To: Loyalist

ALGORE TO ADDRESS URANUS AS CONTRIBUTING TO GLOBAL WARMING.


34 posted on 08/27/2004 7:47:31 AM PDT by Rebelbase (John Kerry, sign form 180 .)
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To: PatrickHenry

"The planet that dare not utter its name" placemarker.


35 posted on 08/27/2004 7:49:09 AM PDT by longshadow
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To: Riley
Others can't distinguish it from a hole in the ground.

Sort of like confusing 'burro' and 'burrow'.

;^)

36 posted on 08/27/2004 7:49:25 AM PDT by headsonpikes (Spirit of '76 bttt!)
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To: dirtboy
A proctologist steps away from the table over which his patient is bending and calls to his nurse, who quickly responds. He whispers something in the nurse's ear. A minute later, she appears in the doorway of the room holding a bottle of beer. The proctologist is first puzzled, but then understands the confusion. "No, no," he says. "I told you to get me a butt light."
37 posted on 08/27/2004 7:52:01 AM PDT by doug from upland (John Kerry cried and asked TaRAYaz to make the SwiftVets stop)
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To: longshadow
"The planet that dare not utter its name"

I submit that pronounciation should be changed to "ooh-raahn-aahs"

38 posted on 08/27/2004 7:54:26 AM PDT by Names Ash Housewares
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To: Loyalist
Spotlight on Uranus

Gee - I hope my dingle-berries aren't showin'.

39 posted on 08/27/2004 7:55:20 AM PDT by TomServo ("Meanwhile, the Midvale police visit his locker and find out why they call him 'Buzz'...")
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To: Loyalist

Well, isn't that special?


40 posted on 08/27/2004 7:56:29 AM PDT by gathersnomoss
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