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You are here: Home / Space / What Is the Axial Tilt of Uranus and Why Is the Axis of Uranus Tilted At Such an Extreme Angle?

What Is the Axial Tilt of Uranus and Why Is the Axis of Uranus Tilted At Such an Extreme Angle?

April 23, 2020 by Karen Hill

Uranus has an axial tilt of 97.77 degrees, and its axis of rotation is close to parallel with the plane of the Solar System.

Near the time of Uranian solstices, one pole faces the Sun continuously while the other pole faces away.

During the equinoxes, the Sun faces the equator of Uranus giving day and night cycles similar to most of the other planets.

We don’t have any physical evidence as to why the planet Uranus is tilted at such an extreme angle.

Judging by what we’ve seen elsewhere in the solar system, astronomers suppose that, early in Uranus’s formation, a huge meteorite or other body knocked it on its side.

Related Facts

  • How Does Uranus's Tilt On Its Axis Effect Its Orbit and How Long Does Uranus Take To Orbit the Sun?
  • Why Does the Earth Tilt 23 Degrees On its Axis and Do Other Planets In the Solar System Tilt?
  • How Is the Planet Uranus's Rotation Tilted On Its Axis and What Does a Retrograde Rotation Mean?
  • What Is the Best Way To Demonstrate How the Planet Uranus Is Tilted On Its Axis With a Sphere?
  • What Is Orbital Tilt and How Do Astronomers Determine the Orbital Tilt of a Planet?
  • Why is Earth's axis tilted?

Filed Under: Space

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « How Long Is a Day On the Planet Uranus and What Is the Difference Between a Sidereal and a Solar Day On Uranus?
Next Post: What Is the Best Way To Demonstrate How the Planet Uranus Is Tilted On Its Axis With a Sphere? »

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