• Education
    • Higher Education
    • Scholarships & Grants
    • Online Learning
    • School Reforms
    • Research & Innovation
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Home & Living
    • Relationships & Family
  • Technology & Startups
    • Software & Apps
    • Startup Success Stories
    • Startups & Innovations
    • Tech Regulations
    • Venture Capital
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cybersecurity
    • Emerging Technologies
    • Gadgets & Devices
    • Industry Analysis
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy
Today Headline
  • Home
  • World News
    • Us & Canada
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Politics
    • Elections
    • Political Parties
    • Government Policies
    • International Relations
    • Legislative News
  • Business & Finance
    • Market Trends
    • Stock Market
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Corporate News
    • Economic Policies
  • Science & Environment
    • Space Exploration
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife & Conservation
    • Environmental Policies
    • Medical Research
  • Health
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Medical Breakthroughs
    • Fitness & Nutrition
    • Pandemic Updates
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Olympics
    • Motorsport
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV & Streaming
    • Celebrity News
    • Awards & Festivals
  • Crime & Justice
    • Court Cases
    • Cybercrime
    • Policing
    • Criminal Investigations
    • Legal Reforms
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World News
    • Us & Canada
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Politics
    • Elections
    • Political Parties
    • Government Policies
    • International Relations
    • Legislative News
  • Business & Finance
    • Market Trends
    • Stock Market
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Corporate News
    • Economic Policies
  • Science & Environment
    • Space Exploration
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife & Conservation
    • Environmental Policies
    • Medical Research
  • Health
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Medical Breakthroughs
    • Fitness & Nutrition
    • Pandemic Updates
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Olympics
    • Motorsport
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV & Streaming
    • Celebrity News
    • Awards & Festivals
  • Crime & Justice
    • Court Cases
    • Cybercrime
    • Policing
    • Criminal Investigations
    • Legal Reforms
No Result
View All Result
Today Headline
No Result
View All Result
Home Science & Environment

A Day on Uranus Is Longer Than We Thought, Hubble Telescope Reveals todayheadline

April 10, 2025
in Science & Environment
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
0
Close-up: Uranus aurorae
4
SHARES
8
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


A Day on Uranus Is Longer Than We Thought, Hubble Telescope Reveals

A new way to measure the length of Uranus’s day could also help determine the rotation rates of other celestial objects—including exoplanets

By Sharmila Kuthunur & SPACE.com

An image of auroras on Uranus, as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope on October 10, 2022.

ESA/Hubble, NASA, L. Lamy, L. Sromovsky

Uranus just got a little more time on its hands.

A fresh analysis of a decade’s worth of Hubble Space Telescope observations shows Uranus takes 17 hours, 14 minutes and 52 seconds to complete a full rotation — that’s 28 seconds longer than the estimate provided by NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft nearly four decades ago.

In January 1986, Voyager 2 became the first — and so far the only — spacecraft to explore Uranus, and with its data, astronomers pegged the ice giant’s rotation period at 17 hours, 14 minutes and 24 seconds. This estimate was based on radio signals emitted by the pale turquoise planet’s auroras and direct magnetic field measurements. This figure became the bedrock for calculating coordinates on the enigmatic world and mapping its surface. Scientists may need to rethink some of those maps, a new study suggests.


On supporting science journalism

If you’re enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.


The initial estimate based on Voyager 2 data carried inherent uncertainties that led to a 180-degree error in Uranus’ longitude, causing the orientation of its magnetic axis to become “completely lost” within just a couple of years after the spacecraft’s flyby. Consequently, coordinate systems relying on the outdated rotation period quickly lost their reliability, according to the study.

To resolve this issue, a team of astronomers led by Laurent Lamy of the Paris Observatory tracked the motion of Uranus’s auroras using Hubble Space Telescope data collected between 2011 and 2022. By tracking the movement of these luminous displays over a little more than a decade, the researchers were able to precisely pinpoint the planet’s magnetic poles and, in turn, a better estimate of its rotational period.

“The continuous observations from Hubble were crucial,” Lamy added in a statement. “Without this wealth of data, it would have been impossible to detect the periodic signal with the level of accuracy we achieved.”

This approach can now be used to determine the rotation rate of any celestial object with a magnetic field and auroras, not only in our solar system but also on exoplanets and other faraway worlds, the researchers say.

This visual shows three panels that each show Uranus and dynamic aurora activity. The images were captured in October 2022 on the 8th, 10, and 24th respectively.

This visual shows three sequential images from the Hubble Space Telescope tracking the dynamic auroral activity of Uranus. The images were captured in October 2022 on the 8th, 10, and 24th respectively.

ESA/Hubble, NASA, L. Lamy, L. Sromovsky

The updated estimate of Uranus’ rotation period has provided a much more reliable coordinate system for the ice giant, one that is expected to remain accurate for decades until future missions can offer even more refined data, according to the new study. The improved estimate could also be useful in planning future missions to Uranus, particularly in defining orbital tours and selecting suitable atmospheric entry sites, Lamy and his team wrote in the new study.

This research is described in a paper published Monday (April 7) in the journal Nature Astronomy.

Copyright 2025 Space.com, a Future company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Previous Post

GLOBE, NASA, and the Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School in Queens, New York

Next Post

Millie Bobby Brown Enola Holmes 3: Enola Holmes 3: Latest update reveals expected release date, will Moriarty return? todayheadline

Related Posts

The head of FEMA defended the agency, so Trump fired him. todayheadline

May 9, 2025
4
Protein From Compost Bacteria Could Improve Drug Delivery for Chemotherapy

Protein From Compost Bacteria Could Improve Drug Delivery for Chemotherapy todayheadline

May 9, 2025
7
Next Post
ET logo

Millie Bobby Brown Enola Holmes 3: Enola Holmes 3: Latest update reveals expected release date, will Moriarty return? todayheadline

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Family calls for change after B.C. nurse dies by suicide after attacks on the job

Family calls for change after B.C. nurse dies by suicide after attacks on the job

April 2, 2025
Pioneering 3D printing project shares successes

Product reduces TPH levels to non-hazardous status

November 27, 2024

Hospital Mergers Fail to Deliver Better Care or Lower Costs, Study Finds todayheadline

December 31, 2024

Police ID man who died after Corso Italia fight

December 23, 2024
Harris tells supporters 'never give up' and urges peaceful transfer of power

Harris tells supporters ‘never give up’ and urges peaceful transfer of power

0
Des Moines Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend's Mother

Des Moines Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend’s Mother

0

Trump ‘looks forward’ to White House meeting with Biden

0
Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’

Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’

0
Justice Sonia Sotomayor urges lawyers to 'stand up' amid Trump tumult

Justice Sonia Sotomayor urges lawyers to ‘stand up’ amid Trump tumult

May 9, 2025
US-UK trade deal: What to know

US-UK trade deal: What to know

May 9, 2025
Chicago celebrates its native son's elevation to pope

Chicago celebrates its native son’s elevation to pope

May 9, 2025
Supersized jewellery factory opening signals more support for ‘Made in Italy’

Supersized jewellery factory opening signals more support for ‘Made in Italy’

May 9, 2025

Recent News

Justice Sonia Sotomayor urges lawyers to 'stand up' amid Trump tumult

Justice Sonia Sotomayor urges lawyers to ‘stand up’ amid Trump tumult

May 9, 2025
2
US-UK trade deal: What to know

US-UK trade deal: What to know

May 9, 2025
3
Chicago celebrates its native son's elevation to pope

Chicago celebrates its native son’s elevation to pope

May 9, 2025
5
Supersized jewellery factory opening signals more support for ‘Made in Italy’

Supersized jewellery factory opening signals more support for ‘Made in Italy’

May 9, 2025
4

TodayHeadline is a dynamic news website dedicated to delivering up-to-date and comprehensive news coverage from around the globe.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Basketball
  • Business & Finance
  • Climate Change
  • Crime & Justice
  • Economic Policies
  • Elections
  • Entertainment
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Environmental Policies
  • Europe
  • Football
  • Gadgets & Devices
  • Health
  • Medical Research
  • Mental Health
  • Middle East
  • Motorsport
  • Olympics
  • Politics
  • Public Health
  • Relationships & Family
  • Science & Environment
  • Software & Apps
  • Space Exploration
  • Sports
  • Stock Market
  • Technology & Startups
  • Tennis
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Us & Canada
  • Wildlife & Conservation
  • World News

Recent News

Justice Sonia Sotomayor urges lawyers to 'stand up' amid Trump tumult

Justice Sonia Sotomayor urges lawyers to ‘stand up’ amid Trump tumult

May 9, 2025
US-UK trade deal: What to know

US-UK trade deal: What to know

May 9, 2025
  • Education
  • Lifestyle
  • Technology & Startups
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2024 Todayheadline.co

Welcome Back!

OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Business & Finance
  • Corporate News
  • Economic Policies
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Market Trends
  • Crime & Justice
  • Court Cases
  • Criminal Investigations
  • Cybercrime
  • Legal Reforms
  • Policing
  • Education
  • Higher Education
  • Online Learning
  • Entertainment
  • Awards & Festivals
  • Celebrity News
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Health
  • Fitness & Nutrition
  • Medical Breakthroughs
  • Mental Health
  • Pandemic Updates
  • Lifestyle
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Food & Drink
  • Home & Living
  • Politics
  • Elections
  • Government Policies
  • International Relations
  • Legislative News
  • Political Parties
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Cybersecurity
  • Emerging Technologies
  • Gadgets & Devices
  • Industry Analysis
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Motorsport
  • Olympics
  • Climate Change
  • Environmental Policies
  • Medical Research
  • Science & Environment
  • Space Exploration
  • Wildlife & Conservation
  • Sports
  • Tennis
  • Technology & Startups
  • Software & Apps
  • Startup Success Stories
  • Startups & Innovations
  • Tech Regulations
  • Venture Capital
  • Uncategorized
  • World News
  • Us & Canada
  • Public Health
  • Relationships & Family
  • Travel
  • Research & Innovation
  • Scholarships & Grants
  • School Reforms
  • Stock Market
  • TV & Streaming
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy
  • About us
  • Contact

© 2024 Todayheadline.co