June 16, 2016

Uranus

Uranus is the 7th planet in distance from the Sun, and the 3rd largest in the solar system (4 times larger than Earth). It is also with Neptune the coldest planet, its blue-green colour due to the methane in its atmosphere.

Fast facts

Uranus is one of the 4 giant planets in the solar system, in the sub-category of ice giants with Neptune. Its atmosphere is essentially made up of hydrogen (83%) and helium (15%), with smaller amounts of methane (2%) and ammonia (0.001%).

The planet’s spin axis is tilted more than 90°, such that it ‘cartwheels’ on its side with one of its poles facing the Sun for 42 years (half of its orbit around the Sun).

Uranus’ features

Composition

Uranus’ core is the same size as Earth’s and composed of rocks rich in silicates and iron-nickel. It is surrounded by a mantle of ice, ammonia and methane.

The atmosphere is made up chiefly of hydrogen and helium, with bands of clouds at different altitudes.

Uranus also has a system of 13 very dark rings composed of rocks and dust.

Credits: NASA/ESA/M. Showalter/SETI Institute.

Uranus planetary data

Mean diameter: 51,118 km
Mass (Earth = 1): 14.5, i.e. 86.8.10²¹ t
Mean density: 1,270 kg/m³
Gravity at equator (Earth = 1): 0.904, i.e. 8.87 m/s²
Mean distance from Sun (Earth-Sun = 1 AU): 19.2 AU, i.e. 2,872.5 million km
Tilt of spin axis: 97.8°
Rotation period (day cycle): 17.24 hrs, retrograde, i.e. 17 hrs 14 min
Revolution period around Sun: 84.02 Earth years, i.e. 30,687 Earth days
Cloud top temperature: –220°C
Moons: 27
Rings: 13

The Uranian system

Observations by the Voyager 2 probe, the Hubble Space Telescope and astronomers from Earth have identified 27 known moons in the Uranian system.

The two largest moons are Titania and Oberon, both spanning more than 1,500 km.

Titania is Uranus’ largest moon and the 8th largest in the solar system. It has giant trenches and cliffs, and possibly a very tenuous carbon dioxide atmosphere.

Oberon is a mixture of ice and rock, with a dark reddish surface.