Spotlight on Uranus (It's Getting Closer)

Globe and Mail ^ | August 27, 2004 | Michael Kesterton

[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).

[Stag]

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

[cav68]

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.

[Stag]

"Uranus is getting closer"

Your cracked.

[cav68]

Could be if one is not tidy

[itsamelman]

[alnitak]

[headsonpikes]

LOL!!!

Bump. ;^)

[Rebelbase]

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"

[itsamelman]

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





A. Both circle Uranus in search of Klingons.

[Riley]

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

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

[Rebelbase]

[Constitution Day]

Stop that! It's getting altogether too silly.

[johnb838]

Ring around Uranus?

[Rebelbase]

ALGORE TO ADDRESS URANUS AS CONTRIBUTING TO GLOBAL WARMING.

[longshadow]

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

[headsonpikes]

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

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

;^)

[doug from upland]

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."

[Names Ash Housewares]

"The planet that dare not utter its name"

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

[TomServo]

Spotlight on Uranus

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

[gathersnomoss]

Well, isn't that special?