The ice giant and its neighbor Neptune remain 'the enigmas of the solar system.'
The final image of Uranus captured by Voyager 2, in January 1986, before the probe cruised to Neptune.Popular Science
. “And we have already waited more than three decades for a mission to these planets. Going to Uranus first means less risk and a mission that can arrive at the planet sooner.” For a planetary mission, “soon” means within the next few decades—the trip to Uranus takes 10 to 15 years, and engineers still need to design and build the spacecraft. As of now, the plan is to launch by 2032, hopefully reaching Uranus by the mid-2040s. The mission would have two parts: an orbiter, which would circle the planet for at least five years, and a probe to dive into the clouds and collect information about the Uranian atmosphere.
Some key measurements that astronomers have for Jupiter and Saturn are still missing for Uranus, such as the amount of noble gases and the ratio of different types of nitrogen. The probe will measure these chemical markers because they’re fingerprints of how and when the planet formed. “The formation of the four giant planets and the way they moved to new locations had a major impact on the whole solar system,” says Mandt.
México Últimas Noticias, México Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
A Handy Guide to Neptune in AstrologyAstrologers are in a serious, long-distance (2.8 billion miles from Earth) relationship with Neptune. This planet plays a major role in astrology. So what does it mean? And what does it mean for you personally? Read alizakelly's comprehensive guide
Leer más »
Justin Moore remains the big question mark when analyzing Villanova’s 2023-24 roster outlookDaily News | Justin Moore remains the big question mark when analyzing Villanova’s 2023-24 roster outlook
Leer más »
Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Fernandina Beach looking for city managersBy the end of this week, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Fernandina Beach will be searching for new city managers. These vacancies are all for different reasons.
Leer más »
Ohio senators raise alarm on cancer-causing chemical potentially spreading in East PalestineOhio Sens. JD Vance and Sherrod Brown asked environmental officials for more information regarding the potential spread of a cancer-causing compound in eastern Ohio.
Leer más »
Norfolk Southern CEO says Ohio town safe after chemical train derailment'I'm drinking the water there': Norfolk Southern CEO says it's safe to return to East Palestine, Ohio, weeks after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed
Leer más »
Chemical signals from fungi tell bark beetles which trees to infestAs fungi break down defensive chemicals in trees, some byproducts act as signals to bark beetle pests, telling them which trees are most vulnerable.
Leer más »