# @europeanspaceagency on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DIbsCAPMdps
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/35582172-europeanspaceagency-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/fd5ccac484.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-04-14T15:50:00.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** J.L.Lopez (@xandler80) — https://gondola.cc/xandler80

## Caption

How fast does Uranus really spin? 🔵

Figuring out how quickly a planet rotates sounds simple, right? Not when it’s Uranus. This icy giant spins on its side, has a lopsided magnetic field, and doesn’t give up its secrets easily. But now, thanks to more than a decade of ultraviolet observations by hubbleesa, scientists have cracked the code.

By tracking Uranus’ aurorae — dazzling light shows triggered near the magnetic poles — astronomers have measured the planet’s interior rotation rate with unprecedented accuracy. We’re talking 1000 times more precise than before.

The result? Uranus completes one rotation in exactly 17 hours, 14 minutes, and 52 seconds — that’s 28 seconds longer than NASA’s Voyager 2 suggested back in 1986.

Why does this matter?
A reliable rotation period means scientists can finally fix a coordinate system that doesn’t drift over time — crucial for tracking the planet’s mysterious magnetic poles and planning future missions (like the proposed Uranus Orbiter and Probe).

Without Hubble’s long-term watch over Uranus’ ultraviolet aurorae, none of this would’ve been possible. Once again, Hubble proves it’s not just about pretty pictures — it’s a powerhouse for planetary science too.

📸 europeanspaceagency / hubbleesa & NASA, L. Lamy, L. Sromovsky; creativecommons BY 4.0

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## Credits

These are the roles credited on Gondola. Credits may be incomplete.
A brand, account owner, or featured person is not necessarily the creator.

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ESA - European Space Agency | @europeanspaceagency | https://gondola.cc/europeanspaceagency | Government Organization |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Producer |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Editor |
| Hubble Space Telescope | @hubbleesa | https://gondola.cc/hubbleesa | Photographer |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Social Media Manager |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Publisher |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Copywriter |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Community Manager |

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