Requiring the Internet to name a scientific mission has become something of a tradition, but we think even the bravest might ask in a recent Twitter request.
An unofficial Twitter account promoting future missions of ice giants in our solar system, Giant Ice Missionsasked for suggestions for a so-called probe sent to Uranus.
Given the potential puns that are inevitably associated with Uranus, this is a dangerous territory, even beyond the expected “Something McSomethingface”. This, of course, was Among the best answersBut with a fertile land like Uranus, why dead horse skin?
Surprisingly, however, that butt jokes They appear to be in the minority, as many respondents took the question in good faith, and answered accordingly.
there was:
Voyager – @NSFVoyager2 🌌
Cassini Huygens – Tweet embed 🪐
new Horizons – Tweet embed 🖤
Juno – Tweet embed 🟠
perseverance – Tweet embed 🔴We want to know, what are you going to call it #Uranus Orbit and probe mission? ⚪️🛰️# retweet # friends # I grow pic.twitter.com/o6vLLgdvMo
– Giant Ice Missions 🛰 (ExploreIGO) September 10, 2022
A mission to Uranus isn’t currently in development, but it’s not just a distant dream. Missions have, so far, been sent to most planets in the solar system. MercuryAnd the VenusAnd the MarsAnd the Jupiter, and Saturn were visited and scanned by dedicated sensors. Even Jupiter’s moons get a mission.
On the other hand, the ice giants were somewhat neglected. Earlier this year, this led a team of experts from the US National Academies to Recommend a mission to Uranus In its nodal report to NASA.
In fact, Uranus considers it so important that the commission, among all its recommendations, gave stinky planet Top priority.
“Uranus is one of the most interesting objects in the solar system,” Scholars’ books. Low internal energy, energetic atmospheric dynamics, and a complex magnetic field are all major mysteries.
“A primordial giant impact may have produced the planet’s extreme axial tilt and possibly its rings and satellites, although this is not certain. Uranus’ large icy rocky moons displayed surprising evidence of geological activity in limited flyby data of Voyager 2, possible ocean worlds.”
If we can’t reuse Herschel, the obvious choice, how about:
Caelus (Greek version of Uranus)
pod (which according to its orbit)
Lassell (Discover Ariel)
Kuiper (for many reasons!)
The Tempest (personal favorite – keeps the Shakespeare theme going)Corey S Powell (@coreyspowell) September 10, 2022
This mission concept is currently running in name Uranus probe and probe (UOP) – But other solar system missions could have more catchy names.
Mars possesses (or had) spirit, opportunity, curiosity, and perseverance. BepiColombo Currently on its way to Mercury, while Akatsuki (Japanese word meaning “dawn”) is currently orbiting Venus. Saturn had Cassini-Huygens. Jupiter has the Juno probe – named after the queen of the Roman goddess, who was married to Jupiter. Her Voyager investigations left the solar system; New Horizons Relay.
There doesn’t seem to be much in the naming convention between these missions, which means there is room for creativity in naming the Uranus probe. Among the top contenders are the astronomers who discovered Jupiter (William Herschel) and some of its moons (William Lassell and Gerard Kuiper).
Wow 😍! And aside from butt jokes, SUPER admired all that was cool #Uranus Orbiter & Probe name suggestions so far! You already have a lot of favourites! ⚪️🛰️# retweet # friends pic.twitter.com/QneOxv7tem
– Giant Ice Missions 🛰 (ExploreIGO) September 11, 2022
There are also famous explorers – the polar explorer Roland Amundsenmountaineer Tenzing Norgay, or Ipirvik-Taqulittuq after 19th-century husband and wife Inuk who served as guides and translators for white Arctic explorers.
If we want to get away from naming the probe after people, this is a practice that can become RepleteOther options are somewhat more poetic. There’s Caelus, the ancient Roman counterpart of the Greek god Uranus. Or Odin, the Norse god who defeated the ice giants in myth.
What seemed to be the most popular proposal was Tempest. This is because a number of Uranus 27 moons Named after Shakespeare’s characters, in the largest proportion – nine (or 10, if you count Ariel) from The Tempest.
Whatever the name, the mission will reveal more information about one of the most mysterious worlds in the solar system.
How did Uranus end up? side slantAnd spin in the opposite direction to other planets? Why would he do that her rings Like anything else in the solar system? What is strange X-rays come out of it? Why its magnetic field? such a mess?
With all these pressing questions, one can almost forget the ridiculous name of the planet in English to begin with.
“Infuriatingly humble alcohol fanatic. Unapologetic beer practitioner. Analyst.”