# Uranus (DD-127)

> Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun, is an ice giant whose rotation axis is tilted about 98 degrees (97.77°) relative to its orbit, so it essentially spins on its side. Over its 84-year orbit, each pole spends about 42 years in sunlight and then 42 years in darkness, giving it the most extreme seasons of any planet. The cause of the tilt isn't settled; a leading idea is one or more giant impacts early in the solar system's history. Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to have visited, flying past in 1986. The footage shows renderings of Uranus and its rings, with the presenter.

- Department: Space
- First published: 2023-12-17
- Last updated: 2023-12-17
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/uranus/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## On the timeline

- **1986**: Voyager 2 flies past Uranus

Full timeline: https://detailenjoyer.com/timeline/?case=uranus

## Quick facts

- **DD-127-F01**: Uranus is tilted about 98 degrees. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (98-degree tilt))_
- **DD-127-F02**: Voyager 2 visited Uranus in 1986. _(Write-up · Exhibit E (One visit))_

## Write-up

Uranus rolls around the Sun on its side. Its axis is tilted about 98 degrees.

1. **Ice giant**: Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun and an ice giant.
2. **98-degree tilt**: Its axis is tilted about 98 degrees.
3. **Extreme seasons**: Each pole gets about 42 years of sunlight, then 42 of darkness.
4. **Unsettled cause**: A leading idea for the tilt is giant impacts.
5. **One visit**: Voyager 2 flew past Uranus in 1986.

## Related case files

- [Mars Nights (DD-603)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/mars-nights/): I paired it with another planet's unusual days and seasons
- [Saturn (DD-128)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/saturn/): I paired it with another ringed giant
- [Venus (DD-132)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/venus/): I paired it with another planet with an odd spin

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: None needed; I added the 97.77° figure for precision.

## Video: Uranus: Uranus Rolls Around the Sun on Its Side

- Duration: 29.0 s · Published: 2023-12-17
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/C093zrrJJnZ.mp4

### Transcript

Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun, possesses a distinctive feature: it rotates on its side. DID YOU KNOW? Unlike most planets in our solar system that rotate on an axis roughly perpendicular to their orbits, Uranus is tilted at an extreme angle of about 98 degrees. This unique axial tilt gives Uranus its peculiar rolling motion, where its poles take turns facing the sun. The exact cause of Uranus' extreme tilt remains a subject of scientific investigation, adding an intriguing aspect to this distant ice giant. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: What kind of planet is Uranus?**  
A: Like Neptune. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Ice giant) · NASA Science: Uranus; Wikipedia: Uranus)_

**Q: How far is Uranus's axis tilted?**  
A: It spins on its side. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (98-degree tilt) · Wikipedia: Uranus)_

**Q: How long is each pole in sunlight?**  
A: Its orbit takes 84 years. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Extreme seasons) · NASA Science: Uranus)_

**Q: What might have tilted Uranus?**  
A: The cause isn't settled. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Unsettled cause) · NASA Science: Uranus; Wikipedia: Uranus)_

**Q: Which spacecraft visited Uranus?**  
A: In 1986. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (One visit) · NASA Science: Uranus)_

## Sources

- [NASA Science: Uranus](https://science.nasa.gov/uranus/)
- [Wikipedia: Uranus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranus)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Uranus." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-127, last updated Dec 17, 2023. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/uranus/