New Discoveries in Planetary Rotation
observations reveal Uranus's rotation period is 28 seconds longer than previously estimated, now confirmed to be 17 hours, 14 minutes, and 52 seconds.
This new measurement, based on a decade's worth of auroral observations, offers a thousand times more accuracy than the previous estimates from 's in the 1980s.
Implications for Future Research and Missions
The refined rotation period and magnetic pole tracking can significantly enhance the accuracy of future missions to Uranus, including atmospheric entry site selection for probes.
This research not only resolves previous inaccuracies but also provides a reliable coordinate system for decades, aiding in the study of Uranus's unique auroras and magnetosphere.