A long-held assumption about Uranus has just been overturned

Uranus' rotation period revised to 17h, 14m, 52s using Hubble.

: Astronomers have recalculated Uranus' rotation speed, finding it to be 17 hours, 14 minutes, and 52 seconds, correcting a margin of error. This was achieved using data from the Hubble Space Telescope combined with the 1986 Voyager 2 flyby data, revealing Uranus rotates slower than previously thought. Laurent Lamy from Observatoire de Paris-PSL led the research, emphasizing the new longitude system allows for accurate tracking of Uranus’ magnetic poles over decades. An upcoming NASA mission, prioritized in 2022, is expected to further explore Uranus’ gravitational and magnetic fields with these findings.

Exploration of Uranus has always been challenging due to its remote location and unique features, including an offset magnetic field. The discovery of Uranus’ revised rotation period comes after years of thorough analysis by international astronomers using decades of imagery from the Hubble Space Telescope. This analysis was meticulously led by Laurent Lamy from Observatoire de Paris-PSL, who pointed out the achievement in narrowing the margin of error to just 0.036 seconds, thereby improving upon data obtained during Voyager 2's rare flyby in 1986.

Initially, Uranus’ rotation period was computed as approximately 17 hours, 14 minutes, and 24 seconds, with a significant potential error of 36 seconds. This large uncertainty impeded accurate tracking of Uranus’ magnetic poles and fueled further study needs. To resolve this, researchers revisited Voyager 2’s ultraviolet data and integrated it with Hubble’s observations of Uranus’ auroral displays made starting from 2011. The auroras, akin to Earth’s Northern Lights, provided critical insight when observed under varying solar wind and magnetospheric conditions.

The precise recalculation of Uranus’ rotation to 17 hours, 14 minutes, and 52 seconds aids in establishing a reliable coordinate system for the planet, enhancing the scientific community's ongoing research and exploration. The clarity in Uranus' rotational dynamics enables detailed future planning of missions to this ice giant and helps in maintaining consistency across astronomical data.

In response to these findings, expectations are set high for an unyet-scheduled NASA mission to Uranus, outlined by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine as a key priority. This mission will aim at encompassing Uranus' gravitational and magnetic fields, aided by these refined temporal benchmarks. Researchers anticipate that the newfound accuracy will facilitate advanced study and model creation for Uranus in ongoing and prospective exploratory endeavors.

Given the magnitude and impact of these discoveries, scientists emphasize the importance of future investments in continuous observation and mission planning to further decrypt Uranus’ mysteries. With the groundwork laid by this recent advancement, Uranus stands as a captivating subject for future space exploration.

Sources: Nature Astronomy, ESA/Hubble, NASA

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