dipper@utastro.UUCP (Debbie Byrd) (06/24/85)
When the Voyager spacecraft encounters Uranus, that outer world will have just come back to our predawn sky. More -- after this. June 24 Seven Months to Uranus Besides Earth and the other planets, there's another noteworthy body now also moving through the solar system. It's a spacecraft launched from our world in 1977 -- Voyager 2 -- soon to encounter the giant outer world Uranus. Voyager 2 has already provided clear sharp images of the outer planets Jupiter and Saturn, and their moons. It'll soon become the first spacecraft from Earth to visit Uranus and its moons -- with its closest approach exactly seven months from today -- on January 24, 1986. As Voyager moves toward Uranus, it's interesting to think about the Earth and Uranus moving with respect to each other. This month the planet Uranus reached its opposition to the sun -- when the outer world appeared opposite the sun in our sky. On June 6, the Earth and Uranus were lined up momentarily on one side of the sun -- before Earth, moving faster in orbit, pulled ahead of Uranus. Our world will be traveling ahead of Uranus in orbit for most of the rest of this year -- until we've moved so far ahead that Uranus is directly behind the sun from our vantagepoint -- on December 10. Around then, late this year, Uranus will be lost from our view. It'll be in the glare of the sun until shortly before its history-making encounter with Voyager 2 -- exactly seven months from today. Then, just weeks before the encounter, Uranus will reappear in our sky -- to be visible to observers with binoculars before the sun comes up at dawn. Script by Deborah Byrd. (c) Copyright 1984, 1985 McDonald Observatory, University of Texas at Austin
mjs@eagle.UUCP (M.J.Shannon) (06/30/85)
> Around then, late this year, Uranus will be lost from our view. It'll > be in the glare of the sun until shortly before its history-making > encounter with Voyager 2 -- exactly seven months from today. Then, > just weeks before the encounter, Uranus will reappear in our sky -- to > be visible to observers with binoculars before the sun comes up at > dawn. > > Script by Deborah Byrd. > (c) Copyright 1984, 1985 McDonald Observatory, University of Texas at Austin Given the position of Uranus WRT the Earth & Sun, won't this make radio reception of any transmitted signals rather difficult? Or is my knowledge of radio & propagation significantly worse than I think it is? -- Marty Shannon UUCP: ihnp4!eagle!mjs Phone: +1 201 522 6063