This is an drawing of the earth and an image of Uranus.
Image from: The Atmosphere, 5th edition

A Uranus summer = a Uranus day

In this picture, the Earth and Uranus are both viewed from the top. In the view of the Earth, the sun is shining from the left, and part of the north pole is in daylight and part of the north pole is in darkness. This is because Earth rotates at right angles to the sun's rays. Unlike the Earth, Uranus rotates with the north pole facing the sun. Thus, in the picture, the north pole of Uranus is never in darkness.

For another view of Uranus' peculiar orientation click here.

Last modified May 7, 2009 by Randy Russell.

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