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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.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Solar System - Uranus
Publications with words: Solar System - Uranus
See also: