A spot on Uranus

Mike Maxwell — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 21:14:45 GMT

The linked-to article mentions:
> The last time a Uranian equinox occurred,
> when transits could have been observed,
> was in 1965. However, telescopes of that
> era did not have the image sharpness required
> to view satellite transits on Uranus.

Of course this picture was by Hubble, although the sharpness of Earth-based telescopes has increased so much that I suspect it could be one with one of those (even the Palomar 200" telescope, which was around in 1965).

In fact, if you've seen pictures amateurs have taken with their little telescopes (under 20") and compare them with photos taken by the best large telescopes not too many decades ago, it's striking how much clearer the amateurs' pictures are. For example, http://media.skytonight.com/images/Mars_12oct2005.jpg, or the pictures of Saturn at http://www.licha.de/photo_reference.php?id=1&val=7. I think there might be a story here... Maybe an amateur could even image the transit of Uranus.

A spot on Uranus

Wade Whitlock, Aberdeen, MD — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 12:52:09 GMT

If I read Mr. Maxwell's comment correctly, he is positing a new solar system! Isn't a transit the movement of an object between the Earth and the Sun? Even if we allow the definition to include a passage of an object (Ariel) between the Earth and some other object (Uranus), the transit would be Ariel's.

Considering the quality of some "amateur" equipment, I suspect he is right. Anybody got the money for a prize?

A spot on Uranus

John Charles Webb, Jr. — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 19:27:28 GMT

-I downloaded the NASA image of Uranus. I then opened the image of Uranus in Adobe PhotoShop and extended the image size of Uranus to 46 x 46 inches. It appears that "the spot" is a group of Klingons.
See, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klingon
-I then enhanced the image using "Kai's Photo Soap" Photoshop plugin. See, http://graphicssoft.about.com/
od/whathappenedto/p/photosoap.htm
-The Klingons were removed immediately using "Photo Soap".
-I uploaded a copy to the NASA Photo Archive and I saved one copy to use as desktop wallpaper.
-The extent of the Klingon Empire should never be underestimated and Uranus should be inspected at least once a week for these invasive lifeforms.
So, althought, at first, it looked like a "spot" it was actually Klingons on Uranus!
-It is my hope that this analysis is valuable.

A spot on Uranus

Mike Maxwell, Laurel MD — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 01:40:53 GMT

FWIW (a matter of definitions), Wade Whitlock's comment on my use of "transit": first, the original article used it. Second, here are the list of definitions of "transit" at http://www.enchantedlearning.com/
subjects/astronomy/glossary/indext.shtml:

1. Transit is when a smaller body passes in front of a larger one (for example, when an object passes between the Sun and the Earth). During this time, the object seems to be crossing the disk of the Sun. The only planets that ever pass between the Earth and the Sun are Mercury and Venus (since they are closer to the Sun than the Earth). Therefore, the only planets that can produce a transit are Mercury and Venus.

2. Transit is the passage of a moon in front of its primary.

3. Transit is the passage of an object across an observer's meridian.

Whitlock is referring to def'n 1, or at least to the given example (the actual def'n doesn't require the transited object to be the Sun). In any case, def'n 2 fits my usage just fine. (There are plenty of similar definitions of "transit" out on the web that include def'n 2.)

A spot on Uranus

P.g. Mulvaney, Boston, MA — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 17:58:42 GMT

Ok, once and for all, guys..."URANUS", originally the name of the Titan "OURANOS" is not a "lettinized" Greek word, to be pronounced like "YOUR-inn-us". Nor is it a "laytinized" word to be pronounced like "your-RAIN-us". It is, in fact, a LATINized word...and thus prounced "you-RAN-us", as in "Sherrif, we thought we were the baddest space-cowboys, but 'URANUS' clear outta town!"

I realize this will spoil the afternoon of some pre-pubescent boys, but as a fellow with a classical education which led to astronomy, it has been an, ahem, sore point with me.

A spot on Uranus

John Doe, Seattle, Washington — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 03:21:51 GMT

it's a birthmark

A spot on Uranus

John Doe, Seattle, Washington — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 06:16:41 GMT

good job at finding a spot, we might find more answers and clues now

A spot on Uranus

Jewel Banner, Los Angeles, California — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 06:29:31 GMT

okay, great we found a spot, but do we know what the spot is, what the surface of the planet looks like. it's great questions are being answered, but too many questions are still unanswered

A spot on Uranus

Ron Bishop, Olathe, Kansas — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 19:08:37 GMT

From an episode of Futurama

Professor: "I'm sorry, Fry, but astronomers renamed Uranus in 2620 to end that stupid joke once and for all."
Fry: "Oh. What's it called now?"
Professor: "Urectum. Here, let me locate it for you."

A spot on Uranus

E.Marvin Almond Jr.Chandler, AZ. — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 15:41:59 GMT

Pictures of Mice ? ---- I Do Not think so, Rather Sperm looking for a Egg/ Planet !
Some one just does'nt have an Imagination.

A spot on Uranus

Susan Stanford, Buffalo, MO — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:21:43 GMT

I'm still traumatized by the exclusion of Pluto. But I've always thought the strange orbit of Uranus to be fascinating, akin to a Mobius strip, right side up, turned sideways and back again... and I love the color!