Asking the internet to name a scientific mission has become a tradition, but we don't think it's worth the risk. Ice Giant Missions, an unofficial account promoting future missions to our Solar System's ice giants, asked for suggestions on what to name the probe. This is dangerous because of the potential puns that are attached to Uranus. That was one of the top answers, but why flog a dead horse? The butt jokes seem to be in the minority, with many people taking the question in good faith and answering accordingly. There was: Voyager - @NSFVoyager2 ๐ Cassini-Huygens - @CassiniSaturn ๐ช New Horizons - @NASANewHorizons ๐ค Juno - @NASAJuno ๐ Perseverance - @NASAPersevere ๐ด We want to know, what would YOU name the #Uranus Orbiter & Probe Mission? โช๏ธ๐ฐ๏ธ#letsgoback #icegiants #namethemission pic.twitter.com/o6vLLgdvMo
A mission to Uranus is not currently being developed. Most of the planets in the solar system have received missions. Dedicated probes have visited Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and other planets. Jupiter's moons are going to get a mission.
The ice giants have not been given much attention. A panel of experts from the US National Academies made a recommendation to NASA about a mission to the planet Uranus.
Out of all the recommendations the panel gave the stinky planet top priority.
The scientists wrote that Uranus is one of the most intriguing bodies in the solar system. It has low internal energy, active atmospheric dynamics, and a complex magnetic field.
The planet's rings and satellites may have been caused by a primordial giant impact. The large ice-rock moons of Uranus are potential ocean worlds.
If we can't reuse Herschel, the obvious choice, then how about:Caelus (Greek version of Uranus)Bode (who calculated its orbit)Lassell (discovered Ariel)Kuiper (for many reasons!)
Tempest (my personal favorite--keeps the Shakespeare theme going)
โ Corey S. Powell (@coreyspowell) September 10, 2022
The name of the mission is currently called the Uranus Orbiter and Probe.
Mars has had at least five different things. Both BepiColombo and Akatsuki are currently on their way to Mercury. The planets had the same name. The Roman goddess queen was married to Jupiter. The probes have left the solar system.
There isn't much in the way of naming conventions between these missions, which means there is room for creativity in naming the Uranus probe. Astronomers who discovered Jupiter and some of its moons are among the top candidates.
WOW ๐! Butt jokes aside, SUPER impressed with all the great #Uranus Orbiter & Probe name suggestions so far! Have so many favorites already! โช๏ธ๐ฐ๏ธ#letsgoback #icegiants pic.twitter.com/QneOxv7tem
โ Ice Giant Missions ๐ฐ (@ExploreIGO) September 11, 2022
After the 19th century Inuk husband and wife who served as guides and interpreters for whiteArctic explorers, there are also famous explorers.
If we don't want to name the probe after people, there are other ways to do it. Caelus is the ancient Roman god of the same name. The ice giants of myth were defeated by the gods.
The most popular suggestion appeared to be Tempest. Nine or 10 of the 27 moons of Uranus are named after Shakespeare characters.
The mission would reveal more information about a world in the Solar System that is shrouded in mystery.
Is it possible that Uranus ended up spinning in the opposite direction to the other planets? There are rings in the Solar System. There are weird X-rays coming out of it. The magnetic field is messy.
One can forget what a silly name the planet has in English with all the burning questions.
It's almost done.
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