The seventh planet from the Sun is Uranus that was first discovered telescopically by Sir William Herschel in 1781. In Greek mythology, Uranus was one of the original god whose off-spring included the twelve gods known as the Titans, being also the father to Cronos (Greek) or Saturn (Roman). [See the full discussion of these mythologies in Saturn Part 2.]
Lying 2.7 billion kilometres or 19AU from the Sun, Uranus’ diameter is around 51 000 kilometres, but appears just as a featureless disk in even large telescopes. Uranus has a diameter about four times that of Earth whose mass fourteen times heavier. From the faint band-like features that may appear from time to time, the planet has been found to rotate about once every 17h 24m, which differs significantly from the 15h 35m often quoted in pre-Voyager 2 publications. For many planetary astronomers, Uranus and Neptune were seen as cousins, have many similarities in both size and nature. For many years Uranus was considered the larger and more massive, but it is now certain that Neptune is more significant planet. The main difference is because of the distances these planets lie from the Sun, where earth-based observations until very recently could reveal very little.
Uranus takes some eighty-four years to orbit the Sun, being in the order of a modern human lifespan. It has the peculiarity of compared to all the other planets by having the pole spinning nearly perpendicular to its orbital plane at 97.86o. This means that any Uranian observers would have sunlight on one hemisphere for 40 years, then darkness for another 40 years, with dawn and twilight lasting about 2 years apiece. During 1997, the equatorial plane of Uranus will visible, with the plane of the satellites and rings being edgewise. It is unknown at the time of writing if there will be a series of occultation and transits.
URANUS DATADiscoverer : William Herschel 13 March 1781 Satellites : 27 (2006) DIAMETER Equatorial : 51 118&#plusmn;4 km. Polar : 49 946±20 km. Flattening : 0.02293 Polar Tilt : 97.86o Period (P) : 84.011 1 years Synodic Period : 369.66 days Orbital Velocity 6.81 kms-1 Eccentricity (e) : 0.045 7 Inclination (i) : 0.772o Mass : 8.683 2 x1025 kg. Mean Density : 1.318 g.cm-3 Mean Distance : 2.719 99 x109 km Sidereal Rotation : -17.24±0.01 hr. (magnetic) Magnetic Polar Tilt : 58.6o Day Length : 17.24 hr. Maximum Diameter : 4.1″ (arcsec) Minimum Diameter : 3.3″ (arcsec) Maximum Magnitude : +5.52v |
Not much was known of the planet until January 1986 when Voyager 2 made it close fly-by. Data revealed little about Uranus itself as it appears to be a rather inactive body, especially when compared to the planet Jupiter and Saturn.
The Uranian atmosphere is composed of a high percentage of methane than the other giant gas planets, which accounts for its bluish or turquoise coloured appearance. Uranus’ atmosphere reaches some 28 kilometres where the winds can be up to about 200 metres per seconds, while the temperatures at the very edges of the atmosphere are about -220±2o (53K) warming slightly to -197±2o (76K). Composition of the atmosphere is about 82.5% Hydrogen, 15.2% Helium and 2.6% Methane (CH4) Other gases and compounds exist, but are relatively rare. These exist as aerosols comprising of ices like ammonia (NH3), water (H2O), and ammonia hydrosulfide - the coloured gases seen in Jupiter and Saturn. Although not as yet detected, methane may also exist in it icy state.
Images taken in 2003 and 2004 by the ground-based Hawaiian 10-metre Keck II telescope revealed something unexpected - that now shows clouds, spots and several belts. This suggests that the planet might be more dynamic than once thought, and long term studies into these atmospheric outbursts or some periodic behaviour may be revealed in the years to come. It seems likely that the possible high tilt of the rotational axis has some significant effect. This is especially noted currently, as the equator in the beginning of 2005 was -15o and will be aligned to the ecliptic at 0o on the 21st-22nd February 2008.
Uranus has five main rings orbiting the planet that is much darker
than the rigs of Saturn and is thought to be more rocky. Each was
originally discovered by an occultation of a faint star behind the
rings in 1977. After the Voyager 2 fly-by, the number of rings
increased to ten, then to twelve in 2003. The first seven are
labelled in increasing distance from Uranus as alpha, beta, eta,
gamma, delta, lambda and epsilon. The three other inner rings are
labelled as the numerals; 6, 5 and 4;
and are quite close together. All ring span only 10 000 kliometers
or so, being some 40% in thickness compared to Uranus’ diameter,
and lie some 20 000 kilometers above the surface. Individually, the
widest and faintest is the epsilon ring, being some 20 to 100
kilometers across. This epsilon ring also varies in thickness as it
surrounds the planet. Brightest of the rings is alpha and beta - lying
44 718 and 45 661 km. from Uranus. Together all the rings can be
seen throughout the entire orbit - between edgewise to fully open -
depending on the tilt of the planet’s pole.
At opposition, Uranus reaches 5.8 magnitude, so that it is just visible to the naked eye on dark moonless nights. Telescopically, the disk’s diameter is a mere 4.4 arc seconds.
Uranus has presently twenty-seven (27) known moons (2006), which can be roughly divided into three groups; the five ‘classical’ main moons, the inner moons associated with the dark rings surrounding the planet, and those well quite some distance from the planet. Our knowledge about these satellites are limited by the single spacecraft visit by Voyager 2 in January 1986. On of the biggest problems is the slow changing tilt of the satellite orbital plane, which causes each little change in the aspects of the sun-lit portions visible to us. Many of the images obtained by Voyager 2 mean we only have knowledge of half the surface features. For us to see the opposing sides will require a future expedition to Uranus around 2016. However, no missions are planned at the moment.
These five main moons are all smaller, at least when compared to largest moons of the other outer planets, but they are all in a similar range around 1 000 km. apiece. Each have classical names derived from the ancient world, while the other moons have names that have broken from the normal tradition, each adopted from characters in either the writings of Alexander Pope or the Shakespearian plays.
Oberon is the outermost and brightest satellite that was discovered by Sir William Herschel in 11th January 1787, only six years after Uranus itself. He found the slightly fainter Titania on the same night. Oberon and Titania are very similar in size, being about 1 500 km. in diameter, with Titania being some 50 km larger. Although appearing quite similar, Oberon contains more slightly more ice, as seen in the 1.6 g.cm-3. density versus 1.72g.cm-3. Both are mixtures of ice and silicates, though about one-fifth the volume is likely made of methane or similar organic compounds frozen in the cold depths of the outer Solar System. Titania is generally darker but is scored by powdery white scratches from either meteor impacts or geological ice flows. Titania also has a deep canyon feature along its equator being similar to what is seen on Tethys - one of Saturn’s moons. Both Oberon and Titania, like the Earth’s are locked in to a synchronous orbit and always facing the same direction towards Uranus.
Oberon and Titania remained for some years until William Lassell discovered the two closer moons of Umbriel and Ariel on 24 October 1851. Both of these moons are also similar in size. Umbriel is likely one of the dimmest and darkest place in the Solar System. The last of the traditional five moons was the smallest and closest to Uranus, Miranda, which was discovered by Gerard Kuiper in 1948.
A 20cm telescope can see both Oberon and Titania when they are at maximum elongation from Uranus, whose magnitude at opposition can reach 13.7v and 13.9v magnitude, respectively. Both Umbriel and Ariel and are little more problematic, as they are closer to the planet and slightly fainter at 14.8v and 14.1v, respectively. These latter two moon can be seen with 30cm with care. Closest of all is Miranda, which is far too difficult for most amateur telescopes.
The most interesting moon from the Voyager 2 flyby was Miranda with its very odd terrain. Twenty-three satellites are now known to orbit the planet.
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Distance Period Size
No. Satellite (km) (days) (km) Discoverer Date
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V Miranda 129 800 1.413 240x234x233 Kuiper 1948
I Ariel 191 000 2.520 581x578x579 Lassell 1851
II Umbriel 266 200 4.144 585 Lassell 1851
III Titania 435 800 8.706 789 Herschel 1787
VI Oberon 583 600 13.463 761 Herschel 1787
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VI Cordelia 49 752 0.335 13 Voyager 2 1986
VII Ophelia 53 764 0.376 16 Voyager 2 1986
VIII Bianca 59 165 0.435 27 Voyager 2 1986
IX Cressida 61 767 0.464 41 Voyager 2 1986
X Desdemona 62 659 0.474 35 Voyager 2 1986
XI Juliet 64 358 0.494 83 Voyager 2 1986
XII Portia 66 097 0.511 70 Voyager 2 1986
XIII Rosalind 69 927 0.558 36 Voyager 2 1986
XXVII Cupid 74 392 0.613 8.9 Showalter 2003
XIV Belinda 75 256 0.624 45 Voyager 2 1986
XXV Perdita 76 417 0.638 13 Karkoschka 1999
XV Puck 86 004 0.762 77 Voyager 2 1985
XXVI Mab 97 736 0.923 12.4 Showalter 2003
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XXII Francisco 4 276 000 266.6 6 Kavelaars 2003
XVI Caliban 7 231 000 579.7 40 Gladman 1997
XX Stephano 7 948 000 677.3 15 Gladman 1999
XXI Trinculo 8 578 000 759.0 5 Holman 2001
XVII Sycorax 12 213 000 1288d 95 Nicholson 1997
XXIII Margaret 14 345 000 1687d 5.5 Sheppard 2003
XVIII Prospero 16 243 000 1977d 15 Petit 1999
XIX Setebos 17 501 000 2235d 15 Kavelaars 1999
XXIV Ferdinand 20 901 000 2887d 6 Kavelaars 2001
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Many of the ring were first discovered in 1977 during an star occultation of the planet. Another was discovered by Voyager 2, followed by two outer rings in 2003. Presently there are twelve rings in total. There is strong evidence of interactions with the other moons, causing peaks or cumps, and even the so-called λ ring does not fully encircle the planet and appears in smaller clumps of orbiting material. Several are asociateed with so-called shepherd moons as seen with Sauturn. Ie. The ε ring is shepherded by Cordelia and Ophelia. In 2003, based on the HST images the R2003 U2 ring was revealed to be controlled by the moons Portia and Rosalind. The newest, Mab, influences the R2003 U1 ring showing wave-like oscillations.
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Distance Width
Ring (km) (km)
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1986U2R 38 000 2 500
6 41 840 1.5
5 42 230 c.2
4 42 580 c.2
α 44 720 4-10
β 45 670 5-11
η 47 190 1.6
γ 47 627 1-4
δ 48 290 3-8
λ 50 024 c.2
ε 51 140 20-96
R2003 U2 67 300 3 800
R2003 U1 97 700 17 000
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Uranus is a surprisingly easy target and can be clearly seen using either the naked-eye in dark skies or in the city with binoculars, of course, if you know where to look.
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CONJUNCTION : 25 February 01h AEST
OPPOSITION : 01 September 22h AEST
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OhUT RA Dec. Vis Diam Tilt Dis Elong Con
Date hh mm.m o ′ mag ″ o A.U o
*****************************************************
14 Jan 22 40.7 -09 10 5.9 3.39 -10 20.76 045 Aqr
28 Jan 22 43.2 -08 54 5.9 3.37 -09 20.91 031 Aqr
11 Feb 22 46.0 -08 37 5.9 3.35 -08 21.01 018 Aqr
25 Feb 22 48.9 -08 19 5.9 3.35 -07 21.06 004 Aqr
11 Mar 22 51.9 -08 01 5.9 3.35 -07 21.06 009 Aqr
25 Mar 22 54.9 -07 43 5.9 3.36 -06 21.00 022 Aqr
08 Apr 22 57.6 -07 27 5.9 3.37 -05 20.89 035 Aqr
22 Apr 23 00.0 -07 12 5.9 3.40 -04 20.73 048 Aqr
06 May 23 02.0 -07 00 5.9 3.43 -04 20.54 061 Aqr
20 May 23 03.5 -06 51 5.9 3.47 -03 20.33 074 Aqr
03 Jun 23 04.5 -06 46 5.9 3.51 -03 20.10 088 Aqr
17 Jun 23 04.9 -06 44 5.8 3.55 -03 19.86 101 Aqr
01 Jul 23 04.7 -06 45 5.8 3.59 -03 19.64 114 Aqr
15 Jul 23 04.0 -06 50 5.8 3.63 -03 19.44 128 Aqr
29 Jul 23 02.7 -06 59 5.8 3.66 -04 19.28 142 Aqr
12 Aug 23 01.1 -07 09 5.7 3.68 -04 19.16 155 Aqr
26 Aug 22 59.1 -07 22 5.7 3.69 -05 19.09 169 Aqr
09 Sep 22 57.1 -07 34 5.7 3.69 -05 19.08 176 Aqr
23 Sep 22 55.0 -07 47 5.7 3.69 -06 19.13 162 Aqr
07 Oct 22 53.2 -07 58 5.8 3.67 -06 19.23 148 Aqr
21 Oct 22 51.7 -08 06 5.8 3.64 -07 19.38 134 Aqr
04 Nov 22 50.7 -08 12 5.8 3.60 -07 19.58 119 Aqr
18 Nov 22 50.3 -08 14 5.8 3.56 -07 19.80 105 Aqr
02 Dec 22 50.5 -08 12 5.8 3.52 -07 20.04 091 Aqr
16 Dec 22 51.3 -08 06 5.9 3.48 -07 20.28 077 Aqr
30 Dec 22 52.7 -07 57 5.9 3.44 -06 20.51 063 Aqr
*****************************************************
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CONJUNCTION : 06 March 00h AEST
OPPOSITION : 10 September 13h AEST
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OhUT RA Dec. Vis Diam Tilt Dis Elong Con
Date hh mm.m o ′ mag ″ o A.U o
******************************************************
13 Jan 22 54.7 -07 45 5.9 3.40 -06 20.71 050 Aqr
27 Jan 22 57.0 -07 30 5.9 3.38 -05 20.88 036 Aqr
10 Feb 22 59.7 -07 13 5.9 3.36 -04 21.00 023 Aqr
24 Feb 23 02.6 -06 55 5.9 3.35 -04 21.06 009 Aqr
10 Mar 23 05.6 -06 36 5.9 3.34 -03 21.08 004 Aqr
24 Mar 23 08.5 -06 18 5.9 3.35 -02 21.04 017 Aqr
07 Apr 23 11.3 -06 01 5.9 3.37 -01 20.95 030 Aqr
21 Apr 23 13.8 -05 45 5.9 3.39 -01 20.81 043 Aqr
05 May 23 16.0 -05 32 5.9 3.42 +00 20.63 056 Aqr
19 May 23 17.7 -05 22 5.9 3.45 +01 20.42 069 Aqr
02 Jun 23 18.9 -05 15 5.9 3.49 +01 20.20 083 Aqr
16 Jun 23 19.5 -05 11 5.8 3.53 +01 19.96 096 Aqr
30 Jun 23 19.5 -05 12 5.8 3.57 +01 19.73 109 Aqr
14 Jul 23 19.0 -05 16 5.8 3.61 +01 19.52 123 Aqr
28 Jul 23 18.0 -05 23 5.8 3.64 +01 19.35 136 Aqr
11 Aug 23 16.4 -05 33 5.8 3.67 +00 19.21 150 Aqr
25 Aug 23 14.6 -05 45 5.7 3.69 +00 19.12 164 Aqr
08 Sep 23 12.6 -05 58 5.7 3.69 -01 19.09 178 Aqr
22 Sep 23 10.5 -06 10 5.7 3.69 -01 19.11 168 Aqr
06 Oct 23 08.6 -06 22 5.7 3.67 -02 19.20 153 Aqr
20 Oct 23 07.0 -06 32 5.8 3.65 -02 19.33 139 Aqr
03 Nov 23 05.8 -06 39 5.8 3.61 -03 19.51 125 Aqr
17 Nov 23 05.2 -06 42 5.8 3.57 -03 19.73 111 Aqr
01 Dec 23 05.1 -06 42 5.8 3.53 -03 19.96 096 Aqr
15 Dec 23 05.7 -06 38 5.9 3.49 -03 20.20 082 Aqr
29 Dec 23 06.9 -06 30 5.9 3.45 -02 20.44 068 Aqr
*****************************************************
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CONJUNCTION : 09 March 05h AEST
OPPOSITION : 13 September 21h AEST
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2008 RA Dec. Vis Diam Tilt Dis Elong Con
Date hh mm.m o ′ mag ″ o A.U o
******************************************************
12 Jan 23 08.6 -06 18 5.9 3.41 -02 20.65 055 Aqr
26 Jan 23 10.8 -06 04 5.9 3.38 -01 20.83 041 Aqr
09 Feb 23 13.4 -05 47 5.9 3.36 -01 20.97 027 Aqr
23 Feb 23 16.2 -05 29 5.9 3.35 +00 21.05 014 Aqr
08 Mar 23 19.2 -05 11 6.0 3.34 +01 21.09 001 Aqr
22 Mar 23 22.1 -04 52 6.0 3.35 +02 21.07 012 Aqr
05 Apr 23 24.9 -04 34 5.9 3.36 +03 21.00 025 Aqr
19 Apr 23 27.6 -04 18 5.9 3.38 +03 20.87 038 Aqr
03 May 23 29.8 -04 03 5.9 3.40 +04 20.71 051 Aqr
17 May 23 31.7 -03 52 5.9 3.44 +04 20.51 064 Aqr
31 May 23 33.1 -03 43 5.9 3.47 +05 20.29 078 Aqr
14 Jun 23 33.9 -03 38 5.9 3.51 +05 20.06 091 Aqr
28 Jun 23 34.2 -03 37 5.8 3.56 +05 19.83 104 Aqr
12 Jul 23 33.9 -03 40 5.8 3.59 +05 19.61 117 Aqr
26 Jul 23 33.0 -03 46 5.8 3.63 +05 19.42 131 Aqr
09 Aug 23 31.7 -03 55 5.8 3.66 +04 19.26 145 Aqr
23 Aug 23 30.0 -04 06 5.7 3.68 +04 19.15 159 Aqr
06 Sep 23 28.0 -04 19 5.7 3.69 +03 19.10 173 Aqr
20 Sep 23 25.9 -04 32 5.7 3.69 +03 19.10 173 Aqr
04 Oct 23 24.0 -04 45 5.7 3.68 +02 19.16 159 Aqr
18 Oct 23 22.2 -04 56 5.8 3.66 +02 19.28 144 Aqr
01 Nov 23 20.9 -05 04 5.8 3.63 +01 19.45 130 Aqr
15 Nov 23 20.0 -05 08 5.8 3.59 +01 19.65 116 Aqr
29 Nov 23 19.8 -05 10 5.8 3.55 +01 19.88 102 Aqr
13 Dec 23 20.1 -05 07 5.9 3.50 +01 20.12 087 Aqr
27 Dec 23 21.1 -05 00 5.9 3.46 +01 20.36 074 Aqr
*****************************************************
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CONJUNCTION : 13 March 10h AEST
OPPOSITION : 17 September 04h AEST
APHELION : 03 Feb 2009 23h AEST
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2009 RA Dec. Vis Diam Tilt Dis Elong Con
Date hh mm.m o ′ mag ″ o A.U o
*****************************************************
10 Jan 23 22.6 -04 50 5.9 3.43 +02 20.58 060 Aqr
24 Jan 23 24.6 -04 36 5.9 3.39 +02 20.77 046 Aqr
07 Feb 23 27.1 -04 20 5.9 3.37 +03 20.92 032 Aqr
21 Feb 23 29.8 -04 03 5.9 3.35 +04 21.03 019 Aqr
07 Mar 23 32.7 -03 44 6.0 3.34 +05 21.09 006 Aqr
21 Mar 23 35.6 -03 25 6.0 3.34 +06 21.09 007 Aqr
04 Apr 23 38.5 -03 06 5.9 3.35 +06 21.03 021 Psc
18 Apr 23 41.2 -02 49 5.9 3.37 +07 20.93 034 Psc
02 May 23 43.6 -02 34 5.9 3.39 +08 20.78 047 Psc
16 May 23 45.6 -02 21 5.9 3.42 +08 20.59 059 Psc
30 May 23 47.2 -02 11 5.9 3.46 +09 20.38 073 Psc
13 Jun 23 48.3 -02 05 5.9 3.50 +09 20.15 086 Psc
27 Jun 23 48.7 -02 03 5.8 3.54 +09 19.92 099 Psc
11 Jul 23 48.6 -02 04 5.8 3.58 +09 19.69 112 Psc
25 Jul 23 48.0 -02 08 5.8 3.62 +09 19.49 126 Psc
08 Aug 23 46.8 -02 17 5.8 3.65 +09 19.32 140 Psc
22 Aug 23 45.2 -02 27 5.7 3.67 +08 19.19 153 Psc
05 Sep 23 43.3 -02 40 5.7 3.69 +08 19.11 167 Psc
19 Sep 23 41.3 -02 53 5.7 3.69 +07 19.09 178 Psc
03 Oct 23 39.3 -03 06 5.7 3.68 +07 19.13 164 Psc
17 Oct 23 37.4 -03 17 5.8 3.67 +06 19.23 150 Aqr
31 Oct 23 35.9 -03 27 5.8 3.64 +06 19.38 135 Aqr
14 Nov 23 34.9 -03 33 5.8 3.60 +05 19.57 121 Aqr
28 Nov 23 34.4 -03 35 5.8 3.56 +05 19.79 107 Aqr
12 Dec 23 34.5 -03 34 5.8 3.52 +05 20.03 093 Aqr
26 Dec 23 35.3 -03 29 5.9 3.48 +05 20.27 079 Aqr
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CONJUNCTION : 17 March 15h AEST
OPPOSITION : 22 September 11h AEST
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2010 RA Dec. Vis Diam Tilt Dis Elong Con
Date hh mm.m o ′ mag ″ o A.U o
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09 Jan 23 36.6 -03 20 5.9 3.44 +06 20.50 065 Aqr
23 Jan 23 38.4 -03 07 5.9 3.41 +06 20.70 051 Psc
06 Feb 23 40.7 -02 52 5.9 3.38 +07 20.87 037 Psc
20 Feb 23 43.3 -02 35 5.9 3.36 +08 21.00 024 Psc
06 Mar 23 46.1 -02 16 6.0 3.35 +09 21.07 011 Psc
20 Mar 23 49.1 -01 57 6.0 3.34 +09 21.09 003 Psc
03 Apr 23 52.0 -01 38 5.9 3.35 +10 21.06 016 Psc
17 Apr 23 54.8 -01 20 5.9 3.36 +11 20.97 029 Psc
01 May 23 57.3 -01 04 5.9 3.38 +12 20.84 042 Psc
15 May 23 59.5 +00 50 5.9 3.41 +12 20.66 055 Psc
29 May 00 01.2 +00 39 5.9 3.45 +13 20.46 068 Psc
12 Jun 00 02.5 +00 32 5.9 3.48 +13 20.24 081 Psc
26 Jun 00 03.2 +00 28 5.8 3.52 +13 20.00 094 Psc
10 Jul 00 03.3 +00 28 5.8 3.57 +13 19.77 107 Psc
24 Jul 00 02.9 +00 31 5.8 3.60 +13 19.56 121 Psc
07 Aug 00 01.9 +00 38 5.8 3.64 +13 19.37 134 Psc
21 Aug 00 00.4 +00 48 5.8 3.67 +13 19.23 148 Psc
04 Sep 23 58.6 -01 00 5.7 3.68 +12 19.13 162 Psc
18 Sep 23 56.6 -01 13 5.7 3.69 +11 19.09 176 Psc
02 Oct 23 54.6 -01 26 5.7 3.69 +11 19.11 169 Psc
16 Oct 23 52.7 -01 38 5.7 3.67 +10 19.18 155 Psc
30 Oct 23 51.0 -01 48 5.8 3.65 +10 19.31 141 Psc
13 Nov 23 49.8 -01 56 5.8 3.62 +10 19.49 126 Psc
27 Nov 23 49.1 -02 00 5.8 3.58 +09 19.70 112 Psc
11 Dec 23 49.0 -02 00 5.8 3.54 +09 19.93 098 Psc
25 Dec 23 49.5 -01 56 5.9 3.49 +09 20.17 084 Psc
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******************************************************** 2011 RA Dec. Vis Diam Tilt Dis Elong Con Date hh mm.m o ′ mag ″ o A.U o ******************************************************** 08 Jan 23 50.6 -01 48 5.9 3.45 +10 20.41 070 Psc 22 Jan 23 52.2 -01 37 5.9 3.42 +10 20.62 056 Psc 05 Feb 23 54.4 -01 23 5.9 3.39 +11 20.81 042 Psc 19 Feb 23 56.9 -01 06 5.9 3.37 +12 20.95 029 Psc 05 Mar 23 59.6 +00 48 5.9 3.35 +12 21.04 016 Psc 19 Mar 00 02.5 +00 29 5.9 3.34 +13 21.08 002 Psc 02 Apr 00 05.5 +00 10 5.9 3.35 +14 21.07 011 Psc 16 Apr 00 08.3 +00 07 5.9 3.36 +15 21.00 024 Psc 30 Apr 00 10.9 +00 24 5.9 3.38 +16 20.88 037 Psc 14 May 00 13.2 +00 39 5.9 3.40 +16 20.73 050 Psc 28 May 00 15.2 +00 51 5.9 3.43 +17 20.53 063 Psc 11 Jun 00 16.6 +01 00 5.9 3.47 +17 20.31 076 Psc 25 Jun 00 17.5 +01 06 5.9 3.51 +17 20.08 089 Psc 09 Jul 00 17.9 +01 07 5.8 3.55 +17 19.85 102 Psc 23 Jul 00 17.7 +01 05 5.8 3.59 +17 19.63 115 Psc 06 Aug 00 16.9 +01 00 5.8 3.63 +17 19.43 129 Psc 20 Aug 00 15.6 +00 51 5.8 3.66 +17 19.27 143 Psc 03 Sep 00 13.9 +00 40 5.7 3.68 +16 19.15 157 Psc 17 Sep 00 12.0 +00 27 5.7 3.69 +16 19.09 171 Psc 01 Oct 00 09.9 +00 14 5.7 3.69 +15 19.08 175 Psc 15 Oct 00 07.9 +00 01 5.7 3.68 +15 19.14 161 Psc 29 Oct 00 06.1 +00 09 5.8 3.66 +14 19.25 146 Psc 12 Nov 00 04.7 +00 18 5.8 3.63 +14 19.41 132 Psc 26 Nov 00 03.8 +00 23 5.8 3.60 +13 19.61 117 Psc 10 Dec 00 03.5 +00 25 5.8 3.55 +13 19.83 103 Psc 24 Dec 00 03.8 +00 22 5.8 3.51 +13 20.07 089 Psc ********************************************************
******************************************************** 2012 RA Dec. Vis Diam Tilt Dis Elong Con Date hh mm.m o ′ mag ″ o A.U o ******************************************************** 07 Jan 00 04.7 +00 16 5.9 3.47 +14 20.31 075 Psc 21 Jan 00 06.1 +00 06 5.9 3.43 +14 20.53 061 Psc 04 Feb 00 08.1 +00 06 5.9 3.40 +15 20.73 047 Psc 18 Feb 00 10.4 +00 22 5.9 3.37 +15 20.89 034 Psc 03 Mar 00 13.1 +00 40 5.9 3.36 +16 21.00 020 Psc 17 Mar 00 16.0 +00 59 5.9 3.35 +17 21.06 007 Psc 31 Mar 00 18.9 +01 18 5.9 3.35 +18 21.07 006 Psc 14 Apr 00 21.8 +01 36 5.9 3.35 +19 21.02 019 Psc 28 Apr 00 24.5 +01 54 5.9 3.37 +19 20.92 032 Psc 12 May 00 27.0 +02 09 5.9 3.39 +20 20.78 045 Psc 26 May 00 29.1 +02 22 5.9 3.42 +21 20.60 058 Cet 09 Jun 00 30.7 +02 32 5.9 3.46 +21 20.38 071 Cet 23 Jun 00 31.8 +02 39 5.9 3.50 +21 20.16 084 Cet 07 Jul 00 32.4 +02 42 5.8 3.54 +21 19.92 097 Cet 21 Jul 00 32.4 +02 42 5.8 3.58 +21 19.69 110 Cet 04 Aug 00 31.8 +02 38 5.8 3.62 +21 19.49 124 Cet 18 Aug 00 30.7 +02 30 5.8 3.65 +21 19.31 137 Cet 01 Sep 00 29.2 +02 20 5.7 3.68 +21 19.17 151 Cet 15 Sep 00 27.3 +02 08 5.7 3.69 +20 19.09 165 Cet 29 Sep 00 25.2 +01 54 5.7 3.70 +19 19.06 179 Psc 13 Oct 00 23.2 +01 41 5.7 3.69 +19 19.09 166 Psc 27 Oct 00 21.3 +01 29 5.7 3.67 +18 19.18 152 Psc 10 Nov 00 19.7 +01 20 5.8 3.65 +18 19.32 137 Psc 24 Nov 00 18.6 +01 13 5.8 3.61 +18 19.51 123 Psc 08 Dec 00 18.1 +01 10 5.8 3.57 +17 19.73 108 Psc 22 Dec 00 18.1 +01 11 5.8 3.53 +18 19.96 094 Psc ********************************************************
******************************************************** 2013 RA Dec. Vis Diam Tilt Dis Elong Con Date hh mm.m o ′ mag ″ o A.U o ******************************************************** 05 Jan 00 18.8 +01 16 5.9 3.49 +18 20.20 080 Psc 19 Jan 00 20.1 +01 25 5.9 3.45 +18 20.44 066 Psc 02 Feb 00 21.8 +01 37 5.9 3.41 +19 20.64 052 Psc 16 Feb 00 24.1 +01 52 5.9 3.39 +19 20.82 039 Psc 02 Mar 00 26.7 +02 09 5.9 3.37 +20 20.94 025 Psc 16 Mar 00 29.5 +02 27 5.9 3.35 +21 21.02 012 Cet 30 Mar 00 32.4 +02 46 5.9 3.35 +22 21.05 001 Psc 13 Apr 00 35.3 +03 05 5.9 3.35 +22 21.02 014 Psc 27 Apr 00 38.1 +03 22 5.9 3.37 +23 20.94 027 Psc 11 May 00 40.7 +03 39 5.9 3.39 +24 20.82 040 Psc 25 May 00 42.9 +03 53 5.9 3.41 +24 20.65 053 Psc 08 Jun 00 44.8 +04 04 5.9 3.45 +25 20.45 065 Psc 22 Jun 00 46.1 +04 12 5.9 3.49 +25 20.22 078 Psc 06 Jul 00 46.9 +04 16 5.8 3.53 +26 19.99 092 Psc 20 Jul 00 47.1 +04 17 5.8 3.57 +26 19.76 105 Psc 03 Aug 00 46.7 +04 14 5.8 3.61 +25 19.54 118 Psc 17 Aug 00 45.8 +04 08 5.8 3.64 +25 19.35 132 Psc 31 Aug 00 44.4 +04 00 5.7 3.67 +25 19.20 146 Psc 14 Sep 00 42.6 +03 48 5.7 3.69 +24 19.09 160 Psc 28 Sep 00 40.6 +03 35 5.7 3.70 +24 19.04 174 Psc 12 Oct 00 38.6 +03 22 5.7 3.70 +23 19.05 171 Psc 26 Oct 00 36.6 +03 09 5.7 3.69 +23 19.12 157 Psc 09 Nov 00 34.9 +02 59 5.8 3.66 +22 19.24 142 Psc 23 Nov 00 33.6 +02 51 5.8 3.63 +22 19.41 128 Psc 07 Dec 00 32.8 +02 46 5.8 3.59 +22 19.62 114 Psc 21 Dec 00 32.6 +02 46 5.8 3.55 +22 19.85 099 Psc ********************************************************
********************************************************
2014 RA Dec. Vis Diam Tilt Dis Elong Con
Date hh mm.m o ′ mag ″ o A.U o
********************************************************
04 Jan 00 33.1 +02 49 5.8 3.51 +22 20.09 085 Psc
18 Jan 00 34.1 +02 56 5.9 3.47 +22 20.33 071 Psc
01 Feb 00 35.7 +03 07 5.9 3.43 +22 20.55 057 Psc
15 Feb 00 37.8 +03 21 5.9 3.40 +23 20.73 044 Psc
01 Mar 00 40.3 +03 37 5.9 3.38 +24 20.88 030 Psc
15 Mar 00 43.0 +03 55 5.9 3.36 +24 20.98 017 Psc
29 Mar 00 45.9 +04 14 5.9 3.35 +25 21.02 004 Psc
12 Apr 00 48.9 +04 32 5.9 3.35 +26 21.02 009 Psc
26 Apr 00 51.7 +04 50 5.9 3.36 +27 20.96 022 Psc
10 May 00 54.4 +05 07 5.9 3.38 +28 20.85 035 Psc
24 May 00 56.8 +05 22 5.9 3.41 +28 20.69 048 Psc
07 Jun 00 58.8 +05 34 5.9 3.44 +29 20.50 060 Psc
21 Jun 01 00.4 +05 43 5.9 3.47 +29 20.29 073 Psc
05 Jul 01 01.4 +05 49 5.8 3.51 +29 20.06 087 Psc
19 Jul 01 01.8 +05 51 5.8 3.56 +30 19.82 100 Psc
02 Aug 01 01.7 +05 50 5.8 3.60 +30 19.60 113 Psc
16 Aug 01 01.0 +05 45 5.8 3.63 +29 19.39 127 Psc
30 Aug 00 59.7 +05 37 5.7 3.67 +29 19.23 141 Psc
13 Sep 00 58.1 +05 26 5.7 3.69 +29 19.10 155 Psc
27 Sep 00 56.1 +05 14 5.7 3.70 +28 19.03 169 Psc
11 Oct 00 54.0 +05 01 5.7 3.71 +27 19.02 177 Psc
25 Oct 00 52.0 +04 48 5.7 3.70 +27 19.06 162 Psc
08 Nov 00 50.1 +04 37 5.7 3.68 +26 19.17 148 Psc
22 Nov 00 48.6 +04 28 5.8 3.65 +26 19.32 133 Psc
06 Dec 00 47.7 +04 22 5.8 3.61 +26 19.51 119 Psc
20 Dec 00 47.3 +04 20 5.8 3.57 +26 19.74 105 Psc
*******************************************************
2015
*******************************************************
03 Jan 00 47.5 +04 22 5.8 3.53 +26 19.98 090 Psc
17 Jan 00 48.3 +04 28 5.9 3.49 +26 20.22 076 Psc
31 Jan 00 49.7 +04 38 5.9 3.45 +26 20.44 062 Psc
*******************************************************
**************************************************
OPPOSITION | CONJUNCTION
dd mon year UT AEST dd mon year UT AEST
**************************************************
01 Sep 2005 12h 22h | 25 Feb 2005 15h 01h*
05 Sep 2006 20h 06h* | 01 Mar 2006 19h 05h*
10 Sep 2007 03h 13h | 06 Mar 2007 00h 10h
13 Sep 2008 11h 21h | 09 Mar 2008 05h 15h
17 Sep 2009 18h 04h | 13 Mar 2009 10h 20h
22 Sep 2010 01h 11h | 17 Mar 2010 15h 01h*
26 Sep 2011 00h 10h | 21 Mar 2011 13h 23h
29 Sep 2012 07h 17h | 24 Mar 2012 19h 05h*
03 Oct 2013 13h 23h | 29 Mar 2013 01h 11h
07 Oct 2014 20h 06* | 02 Apr 2014 07h 17h
12 Oct 2015 03h 13h | 06 Apr 2015 14h 00h*
**************************************************
Aphelion : 03 Feb 2009 13h 23h
**************************************************
* Event Occurs in AEST the Next Day
**************************************************
The user applying this data for any purpose forgoes any liability against the author. None of the information should be used for regarding either legal or medical purposes. Although the data is accurate as possible some errors might be present. The onus of its use is place solely with the user.
