As the rings of Uranus swing edge-on to Earth – a short-lived view we get only once every 42 years – astronomers observing the event are getting an unprecedented, glare-free view of the rings and the fine dust that permeates them.
This series of images from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope shows how the ring system around the distant planet Uranus appears at ever more oblique (shallower) tilts as viewed from Earth
The rings were discovered in 1977, so this is the first opportunity astronomers have had to observe a Uranus ring crossing and perhaps to discover a new moon or two.
We noted the discovery of a blue ring around Uranus, last year.
No childish “Uranus” puns please.
Twice during Saturn’s 29-year orbit the rings appear edge-on from Earth. Saturn’s rings will be invisible in small to medium aperture telescopes again in September, 2009. I’ve seen Saturn’s rings when they “disappear” (last in 1995). Very strange sight.
Uranus is currently in Aquarius, best visible around 06:00 GMT, and at magnitude 5.7 is a fine object in small scopes of 8 inch or larger aperture. But you’ll need some time on Earth’s largest scopes to see its rings.
See Cage Match for info on the new Google Sky:
http://tinyurl.com/ysgo4d
super-cool. the advances in astronomy in recent years never cease to amaze me.
#1. Not to worry, according to Professor Hubert Farnsworth, astronomers are planning on ending those stupid jokes by changing the name of the planet to ‘Eurectum.’
You can apply an ointment and those rings will clear up.
#1 …Have you been to this forum before? I’m betting on at least a 5 to 1 pun to serious post ratio. 🙂
How did they know about the rings around my anus? Damn, is my webcam stuck on again?
First time I’ve seen blue dingle berry’s
Where did my post go….??
OK..
The Original Pronunciation IS U-RAN-US
Look it up..
This started as a pun, and a mis-reading that has carried along, along TIME
How are the Star Ship Enterprise and toilet paper related?
They both go around Uranus and wipe out the Klingons.
Sorry, no comment. This one’s just too easy.
Did they find any hair too?
“We noted the discovery of a blue ring around Uranus, last year.”
And if you drink a roofie at a gay party you’ll discover a purple ring around Uranus.
There are much we do not know about the Universe, like how orbital debris appears, or how to conjure an original witty joke.
Let’s hurry this global warming thing along. Once our atmosphere dissipates we can have cool rings around our planet, too!