Expert: Philip Stahl - 2/26/2010

Question
Hi. I know Uranus is said to rotate on it's side (although how can they be sure it's on it's side rather than it's rings just being over it's axis?, that's like they say Venus is upside down but couldn't it just be rotating backwards?) but I thought it was spinning like a wheel would spin, meaning on it's side but I read that part of the time it's north poll is toward the sun and part of the time it's south poll is toward the sun, so then does that mean it still rotates the same vertically as the other planets, meaning it's equator is essentially it's axis? If so and it's south poll and facing the sun for a long period of time does that mean it's day is extremely slow? I know it's year is 84 years. Thanks for any clarification you can offer.

Answer
Hello,

You have lots of questions. I believe most are answered at the link below - a site by another allExpert - Prof. Seligman:

http://cseligman.com/text/planets/uranusrot.htm

Read through it carefully, go to the highlighted links. His illustrations of the comparable axial tilts (Discussed at the link 'Rotation Period and Day Length') are particularly good. Note ow the tilt and rotation orientation of Uranus compares to the other planets.

Basically I am putting you onto this excellent link as I see no point in "reinventing the wheel" so to speak!