The cosmic collision that left Uranus spinning on its side
In short: While most planets spin like tops, Uranus wobbles on its side. This video uses groundbreaking visual effects to reconstruct the violent planetary migrations and high-drama events that shaped our solar system's history.
The series explores the early history of the solar system, specifically the period of mass planetary migrations. During this era, planets jostled for position, leading to dramatic gravitational interactions that influenced their current orbits and rotations.
By using the latest science to unlock the past lives of these worlds, the production illustrates how these chaotic movements resulted in unique characteristics, such as why Uranus and Venus spin in the opposite direction to the rest of the planets.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Why is Uranus On Its Side? | The Planets | BBC Earth Science
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