UranusUranus

UranusUranus

UranusUranus is the seventh is the seventh planet from the from the Sun and the third-largest and fourth most massive and the third-largest and fourth most massive planet in the planet in the Solar System. It is named after . It is named after the ancient Greek deity of the sky (the ancient Greek deity of the sky (Uranus), ), the father of the father of Kronos ( (Saturn) and grandfather ) and grandfather of of Zeus ( (Jupiter). Though it is visible to the ). Though it is visible to the naked eye like the five naked eye like the five classical planets, it , it was never recognized as a planet by ancient was never recognized as a planet by ancient observers because of its dimness and slow observers because of its dimness and slow orbit.orbit.

Uranus has a mean distance from Uranus has a mean distance from the Sun of 2.87 billion kilometers the Sun of 2.87 billion kilometers (1.78 billion miles). It rotates (1.78 billion miles). It rotates about its axis once every 17 about its axis once every 17 hours 14 minutes. Uranus has at hours 14 minutes. Uranus has at least 22 moons.least 22 moons.

The atmosphere of Uranus is composed of The atmosphere of Uranus is composed of 83% hydrogen, 15% helium, 2% methane 83% hydrogen, 15% helium, 2% methane and small amounts of acetylene and other and small amounts of acetylene and other hydrocarbons. Methane in the upper hydrocarbons. Methane in the upper atmosphere absorbs red light, giving atmosphere absorbs red light, giving Uranus its blue-green color. The Uranus its blue-green color. The atmosphere is arranged into clouds atmosphere is arranged into clouds running at constant latitudes, similar to running at constant latitudes, similar to the orientation of the more vivid latitudinal the orientation of the more vivid latitudinal bands seen on Jupiter and Saturn. bands seen on Jupiter and Saturn.

Winds at mid-latitudes on Uranus Winds at mid-latitudes on Uranus blow in the direction of the planet's blow in the direction of the planet's rotation. These winds blow at rotation. These winds blow at velocities of 40 to 160 meters per velocities of 40 to 160 meters per second (90 to 360 miles per hour). second (90 to 360 miles per hour). Radio science experiments found Radio science experiments found winds of about 100 meters per winds of about 100 meters per second blowing in the opposite second blowing in the opposite direction at the equator.direction at the equator.

Uranus is a giant ball of gas and liquid. Its Uranus is a giant ball of gas and liquid. Its diameter at the equator is 31,763 miles diameter at the equator is 31,763 miles (51,118 kilometers), over four times that (51,118 kilometers), over four times that of Earth. The surface of Uranus consists of of Earth. The surface of Uranus consists of blue-green clouds made up of tiny crystals blue-green clouds made up of tiny crystals of methane. The crystals have frozen out of methane. The crystals have frozen out of the planet's atmosphere. Far below the of the planet's atmosphere. Far below the visible clouds are probably thicker cloud visible clouds are probably thicker cloud layers made up of liquid water and crystals layers made up of liquid water and crystals of ammonia ice. of ammonia ice.

Deeper still -- about 4,700 miles (7,500 Deeper still -- about 4,700 miles (7,500 kilometers) below the visible cloud tops -- kilometers) below the visible cloud tops -- may be an ocean of liquid water containing may be an ocean of liquid water containing dissolved ammonia. At the very center of dissolved ammonia. At the very center of the planet may be a rocky core about the the planet may be a rocky core about the size of Earth. Scientists doubt Uranus has size of Earth. Scientists doubt Uranus has any form of life.any form of life.

Uranus travels around the sun in an elliptical Uranus travels around the sun in an elliptical (oval-shaped) orbit, which it completes in (oval-shaped) orbit, which it completes in 30,685 Earth days, or just over 84 Earth 30,685 Earth days, or just over 84 Earth years. As it orbits the sun, Uranus also years. As it orbits the sun, Uranus also rotates on its axis, an imaginary line through rotates on its axis, an imaginary line through its center. The planet's interior (ocean and its center. The planet's interior (ocean and core) takes 17 hours 14 minutes to spin core) takes 17 hours 14 minutes to spin around once on its axis. However, much of around once on its axis. However, much of the atmosphere rotates faster than that. the atmosphere rotates faster than that.

The fastest winds on Uranus, measured The fastest winds on Uranus, measured about two-thirds of the way from the about two-thirds of the way from the equator to the south pole, blow at about equator to the south pole, blow at about 450 miles per hour (720 kilometers per 450 miles per hour (720 kilometers per hour). Thus, this area toward the south hour). Thus, this area toward the south pole makes one complete rotation every pole makes one complete rotation every 14 hours. 14 hours.

Uranus is the farthest planet that Uranus is the farthest planet that can be seen without a telescope. can be seen without a telescope. Its average distance from the sun Its average distance from the sun is about 1,784,860,000 miles is about 1,784,860,000 miles (2,872,460,000 kilometers), a (2,872,460,000 kilometers), a distance that takes light about 2 distance that takes light about 2 hours 40 minutes to travelhours 40 minutes to travel. .

Uranus is the planet tipped Uranus is the planet tipped on its side. Uranus spins more on its side. Uranus spins more like a barrel on its side than a like a barrel on its side than a top. This strange tilt may be top. This strange tilt may be the result of a collision with the result of a collision with another body that tipped another body that tipped Uranus on its side.Uranus on its side.

UranusUranus

Temperature:Temperature: Uranus is very cold — its Uranus is very cold — its average temperature is average temperature is –350° F (–210° C).–350° F (–210° C).

Uranus’ 5 biggest planets: Ariel, Umbriel, Uranus’ 5 biggest planets: Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, Oberon, and Miranda. There are Titania, Oberon, and Miranda. There are at least 22 smaller moons.at least 22 smaller moons.

Uranus is similar in composition to Uranus is similar in composition to Neptune, and both have different compositions from those of the larger gas giants Jupiter and Saturn. As such, astronomers sometimes place them in a separate category, the "ice giants". Uranus's atmosphere, while similar to Jupiter's and Saturn's in being composed primarily of hydrogen and helium, contains a higher proportion of "ices" such as water, ammonia and methane, along with the usual traces of hydrocarbons

TRIVIATRIVIA

QUESTIONQUESTION

1. What are the 5 1. What are the 5 biggest moons of biggest moons of URANUS?URANUS?

ANSWERANSWER

Ariel, Umbriel, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, Oberon, Titania, Oberon, and Mirandaand Miranda

QUESTIONQUESTION

What is the order of What is the order of Uranus from the sun?Uranus from the sun?

ANSWERANSWER

seventhseventh

QUESTIONQUESTION

What percent is What percent is Uranus’ hydrogen?Uranus’ hydrogen?

ANSWERANSWER

83%83%

ReferenceReference

http://www.nasa.gov/worldbook/http://www.nasa.gov/worldbook/uranus_worldbook.htmluranus_worldbook.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranus http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?

c=a&id=1226c=a&id=1226 http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?

Object=UranusObject=Uranus http://www.solarviews.com/eng/uranus.htmhttp://www.solarviews.com/eng/uranus.htm http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?

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