Topic: A CHANCE TO SEE THE SEVENTH PLANET

[Clive]

Uranus is the seventh planet in order from the Sun and is probably
the strangest.  It's the third largest planet in the Solar System (after
Jupiter and Saturn) but because of its extreme distance,  it is barely
visible to the naked eye.  It lies far beyond the orbit of Saturn and
takes 84 years to complete a revolution of the Sun.  It has a total
of 27 moons, 5 of which are large enough to be seen through a small
telescope.  Astronomers believe that early in the formation of the
Solar System, another planet collided with it, tipping it over onto its
side causing the planet to rotate like a car wheel.  Space telescopes
reveal it has a ring system similar to that of Saturn.   
 
At the moment, it's a very easy object to find with a small pair
of binoculars.  After dark, look towards east for the brightest
"star" in the sky.  This is actually the planet Jupiter and your binoculars
will show it as a tiny disc.  In the same field of view, Uranus can be
found appearing as a faint star just above and to the left of Jupiter. 
Go out and take a look for yourself!