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From: nyssa@abnji.UUCP (nyssa of traken)
Newsgroups: net.astro
Subject: Re: StarDate: April 24 Nine Months to Uranus
Message-ID: <602@abnji.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 9-May-85 07:06:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: abnji.602
Posted: Thu May  9 07:06:23 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 10-May-85 02:44:22 EDT
References: <971@ames.UUCP>
Organization: Terminus Hospital, Incorporated
Lines: 22

>> When I read this, it seemed a bit misleading.  As Uranus moves around its 
>> orbit, one hemisphere gradually lightens and one gradually darkens.  In
>> fact, most of the time, most of the planet will get sunlight in a given day.
>>
>Most?  Maybe close to 50%?  Half a sphere if we 'round' the oblate
>structure of the planet.

What I meant was that when Uranus was halfway between an equinox and a
solstice that in one rotation of Uranus a sizeable amount of the planet
will be illuminated at one time or another (even if it is only the 
surfaces of the clouds).  At any given instant, around 50% will be
illuminated, giving allowances for any irregularities.  On a perfect
sphere smaller than the sun, just over 50% will always be illuminated
at any given instance.

I am still looking forward to the encounter.  Will PBS televise it live,
as they did Saturn?
-- 
James C Armstrong, Jnr.   ihnp4!abnji!nyssa

The Boss gave me one of these, ten seconds, he said.  Let's see
if it works...