Hmmm....Uranus differs?

Question

I am doing a couple of questions about the solar system, and I came upon to this one and got stuck:

How does Uranus differs from other planets?

My inference: because Uranus rotates on an axis titlted 90 (degree) to the plane of the solar system.

If i am wrong, please explain.

Thanks

Answer 1

Ahhh, the planet that is the butt (pun intended) of many jokes. First things first. Its normally and incorrectly pronounced by people as Your Anus....but its really pronounced Yoor-inus. Now with that out the way. Its axis is tilted 98 degrees to its orbital plane resulting in one hemisphere being in sunlight for 42 years and darkness for 42 years.

Answer 2

You are absolutly correct. The axial tilt of Uranus is almost ninety degrees to the plane of the solar system. So much so that the planet's northern hemisphere is constantly in sunlight, with the southern always in shadow. Nobody knows why this is such, but one theory is that a large comet slammed into the planet many years ago and knocked it off-kilter.

Answer 3

You are correct. The axial tilt of Uranus is almost 90 degrees off from the rest of the planets. It's theorized that a large object like an asteroid or comet passed through the system and caused this.

Answer 4

Hi. Very good! This makes Uranus unique to our solar system because the seasons are so radical. Imagine the Earth tilted the same angle and you'll see why.