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Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Уран: наклоненная планета http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1170529/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Voyager 2 Team,
NASA
Explanation:
Uranus is the third largest planet in our
Solar System after
Jupiter and
Saturn.
Uranus
is composed mostly of rock and ices,
but with a thick
hydrogen and
helium atmosphere.
The blue hue of Uranus' atmosphere arises from the small amount of
methane which preferentially absorbs red light.
This picture was snapped by the
Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1986 -
the only spacecraft ever to visit Uranus.
Uranus has many
moons and a
ring system.
Uranus, like
Venus, has a rotation axis that
is greatly tilted and sometimes points near the Sun.
It remains an astronomical mystery why
Uranus' axis is so tilted.
Uranus and
Neptune are quite similar:
Uranus is slightly larger but less massive.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.