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How many years does the summer in Uranus last?

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Old 03-26-2007, 10:19 PM
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Default How many years does the summer in Uranus last?

How many years does the summer in Uranus last?
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Old 03-26-2007, 10:20 PM
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A "year" on Uranus lasts ~84 years. If you assume that the summer is one quarter of the time (eg summer, autumn, winter and spring) then a quarter of that is 21 years.

At the height of summer, the sun is virtually straight above the north pole, meaning there is no night for half the planet, while the other half the planet is in perpetual night at the hieght of winter.

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Old 03-26-2007, 10:21 PM
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Summer on Uranus lasts 21 years using the definition of 4 equal seasons. However, the period between vernal (spring) equinox and autumnal equinox is actually 42 years. This year is the vernal equinox.
I quote:"The extreme tilt of the axis of Uranus has important implications for the weather on that planet. Consider how the seasons vary during the course of one uranian year:

* Winter solstice (which last occurred in 1985 AD):
The north pole is pointed almost directly away from the Sun.
The northern hemisphere experiences perpetual darkness.
The southern hemisphere experiences perpetual sunlight.
* Spring equinox (2006 AD):
The rotation axis is perpendicular to the Uranus-Sun direction.
From any point on Uranus, the Sun rises in the east
and sets in the west 8 1/2 hours later.
* Summer solstice (2027 AD): The north pole is pointed almost directly toward the Sun.
The north experiences perpetual sunlight.
The south experiences perpetual darkness."

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