Poll: What is your favorite planet?

OK who's the wise guy who voted for Uranus?

Why is the starship enterprise like toilet paper?

The both make rings around Uranus in search of Klingons.

Hey, I voted for Uranus because it's the prettiest color (well, it and Neptune) and dude! It's axis of rotation is totally aschew! Isn't that awesome?

totally eschewed?

;)

Hey, I'm an ASTRONOMY nerd. Not a word nerd. Well, I am, just not a spelling nerd.

Lemme alone.

You get major Gordonpoints for knowing about its axis of rotation. It is the only one that is inclined over 90 degrees. I think it is inclined 98 degrees which means it is basically rotating on its side.

The angle is measured from the perpendicular to the orbit. I'm having a hard time figuring out how to explain why it is 98 degrees not 82.

when something rotates or revolves you can define the direction using the right-hand rule. Curl the fingers or your right hand in the direction of the rotation and your thumb points to the north poll. In Uranus's case that is in the southern hemisphere defined by its orbit.

The obvious reason for explaining this is the direction of the rotation. Most of the planets rotate in a sun rises in the east, sets in the west fashion. We base the axis of rotation on how similar it is to this pattern. And because Uranus is like, whoa, that's how we get the 97.8� (ish) instead of the 82.2�. Ish.

Hey, you wanna hear about messed up axes, check out Venus. It's totally upside down. Pluto's weird too.

Hi. My name's Rachel, and I'm an astronomy nerd.

OOH! Let's talk about black holes next!

I didn't know you were an Astronomy nerd. How come I never saw you at the meetings?

Dude! There are meetings? Where?!

The Planetarium. Duh.

Psh. Planetariums are for amateurs. Though they ARE pretty damn awesome.

My cousin was married at the Planetarium at the Franklin Institute. Best Wedding Ever.

OK the meetings are at the Keck Observatory on Moana Kea.

Approved. See you there. ;o)

And now *I* want to get married at the Fels Planetarium!

And Honeymoon at the Keck!

> OK who's the wise guy who voted for Uranus?

I'm suddenly earwormed with "Nightflight to Uranus" by Datarock.

Not an earworm I was especially wanting to have...

All the natives seem so jovial.

Boooo.

(But good job throwing a little mythological nerdiness in there with all that astronomy stuff. :))

In that case I'll bring up Venerial :-)

pluto is a planet!

what about osiris, persephone, ariel, or miranda? ;)

what about dagobah and tattooine and naboo?

I'd vote for miranda.

It's quiet there.

> It's quiet there.

Not if you're psychic.

A valid point.

Persephone, ariel, and miranda are moons. Are they planets in some mythos?

The planet I was tempted to add was Gallifrey.

firefly.

"am i...talking to miranda?"

*looks at you like�YOU are�the crazy one*

heehee. that's neal's favorite moment in serenity. one of mine, too. :)

mine too!! :)

I've never been anywhere else.

Had to vote based on it's my fav of Holst's Planets...

oh! mine too!

Veronica Mars lives there..

Doubly planeted, that girl.

I sang Neptune once!

Me tooo!

I'm glad to see all the earth patriotism. GO EARTH! NUMBER ONE!!!111!!!!!!!!1 USA!

Bah, terrestrial chauvanism. Next thing you know we'll be bombing Mars.

Who would notice?