{"id":456,"date":"2016-03-22T23:40:58","date_gmt":"2016-03-22T23:40:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/?page_id=456"},"modified":"2025-09-13T13:43:19","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T12:43:19","slug":"planet-uranus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/planet-uranus\/","title":{"rendered":"Planet Uranus"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Planet Uranus is unique in our solar system<\/a> in that its Obliquity or axil tilt is more than a right angle to its Elliptical path (its actual obliquity is 97.8\u02da).<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Overview of Planet Uranus<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Discovery of Uranus<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Naming Uranus<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Obliquity of Planet Uranus<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Seasons of Planet Uranus<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Magnetic field of Uranus<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Structure of Planet Uranus<\/a><\/p>\n

Atmosphere of Uranus<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Why is Uranus the Coldest Planet?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Rings of Uranus<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Where in the Solar System?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Quick Stats<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Overview of Planet Uranus<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Planet<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Planet Uranus is the seventh planet in our solar system and unique in that it’ rotational axis is almost horizontal. Its striking blue-green colour is due to its methane rich atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It wasn’t discovered until 1781 when telescopes had been in use (whereas the planets closer<\/a> to the sun had been observed for thousands of years) and it took over 200 years to discover Uranus had rings. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Uranus is an ice giant made up of over 80% icy water, methane and ammonia. It is the coldest planet in our solar system with atmospheric temperatures reaching as low as -224\u02daC or 49.15\u02dak. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Discovery of Uranus<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Uranus lays just over 18 Astronomical Units (1 AU is the average distance between Earth and the Sun) from Earth which made seeing this gas giant impossible from earth without the use of a telescope. Because of this Uranus was the first planet to have been discovered in the ‘modern era’. It was discovered by German born British astronomer and composer Sir William Herschel on the 13th<\/sup> of March 1781. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sir<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The image on the left is a portrait of Sir William Herschel painted by Lemeul Abbott in 1785. The image on the right is of a replica of Herschel’s telescope which he helped build and used to discover Uranus.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Herschel also discovered two moons of Uranus, Titania and Oberon, on 11th of January 1787 as well as two of Saturn’s moons, Enceladus and Mimas on the 28th of August 1789 and 17th of September 1789 respectively. He also calculated that the Milky Way was disc shaped and made many more discoveries.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Naming Uranus<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ana’,’sans-serif’; font-size:12.0pt; “>Herschel named this new planet ‘Georgium Sidus’ or Georgian Star after King George III of Great Britain. The name was not accepted by many, particularly France who named the Planet ‘Herschel’. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Johann<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Some years later another German astronomer, Johann Elert Bode, had been studying the planets orbit when he suggested the name of Uranus. His logic for the name was this. Saturn was the father of Jupiter and Uranus was the father of Saturn. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The new name was slowly accepted becoming the common new name for the seventh planet by around 1850.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Obliquity of Planet Uranus<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

At right angles to a planets equator runs its axis or celestial pole, the centre point on which the planet spins. The path which the planet orbits its sun is known as its orbital path or ecliptic. The Obliquity can be calculated by measuring the difference in angle of the planets equator and ecliptic. This is the same value as the axil tilt which can be calculated by measuring the difference between the axil and the right angle of the ecliptic or orbital path.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Obliquity<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Uranus is unique in our solar system in that its Obliquity or axil tilt is more than at right angles to its Elliptical path (its actual obliquity is 97.8\u02da).<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The reason for the extreme obliquity of planet Uranus is unknown but it is believed that in the wild and unpredictable setting of the early solar system Uranus was struck by and Earth sized object that turned rotated it to its current position.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It is the obliquity that causes the planets to have seasons some of which a negligible, such as on Mercury that has a obliquity of 0.03, while Uranus has extreme changes to its seasons.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Seasons of Planet Uranus<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Planet Uranus takes around 84.3 Earth-years to orbit the sun and so each of its seasons last a little over 21 earth-years. Additionally because of its obliquity when a hemisphere is in winter it will remain in complete darkness for 21 earth-years.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Seasons<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Magnetic field of Uranus<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Magnetic<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Uranus has a very peculiar magnetic field. While Earth’s magnetic poles run through the centre of the planet at a slight angle of approximately 11\u02da from the rotational axis (although new data suggests that Earth’s is pretty temperamental) the magnetic pole of Uranus is way off. It runs through the planet off centre, crossing the rotational axis a third of its radius from the equator. The north magnetic pole runs at an angle of 59\u02da from the rotational axis in the southern hemisphere and in addition Uranus may have two north and south poles. This means that the magnetic field on Uranus varies from being 1\/3 the strength of Earth’s in some areas while being four times stronger than Earth’s in other areas. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A planets magnetic field<\/a> is known as its magnetosphere and is imperative to protection from dangerous cosmic rays and solar flares. Having weaknesses in the magnetic field means weaknesses in that protection. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Structure of Planet Uranus<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Structure<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Atmosphere of Uranus<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Planet<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Uranus has a remarkable blue and green colour which is caused by its methane rich atmosphere. The methane absorbs the red spectrum through the photoelectric effect leaving the blue and green spectrum to be reflected back (the photoelectric effect is what gives everything its colour).<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Why is Uranus the Coldest Planet?<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Heat<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Uranus is the coldest planet in our solar system with atmospheric temperatures reaching as low as -224\u02daC or 49.15\u02dak. This is several degrees below Neptune (coldest temperatures on Neptune reaches -218\u02daC or 55\u02dak) despite Uranus being some 2 billion km closer to the energy giving sun (Uranus 2.877 billion km from the sun, Neptune 4.498 billion km).<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There are two current theories as to why this is. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

One theory is that when the planet was knocked on its side, by the impact from an earth-sized object, the heat from its core was released into space.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Another theory is that a lot of energy is lost from Uranus during its equinox seasons (autumn and spring) due to the energetic atmosphere. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Rings of Uranus<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Rings<\/a><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In 1977 the orbit of Uranus placed it in front of a distant star in relation to observers on Earth. This gave astronomers their first glimpse of the rings of Uranus, although only nine were visible at the time. Nine years later NASA’s Voyager II spacecraft, the only craft to visit the planet, discovered 2 additional rings. The last two known rings were discovered by the Hubble Space Telescope between 2003 and 2005 bringing the current total of known rings to 13. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The rings have only semi-sequential designation because of how they were discovered. Two teams of scientist observed the Uranus transit in front of the star (SAO 158687) hoping just to glimpse the planet. One team was in the Perth Observatory while another was a Team from NASA on the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (an observatory on board a plane). The NASA team discovered 5 rings and designated them Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon in order of distance from Uranus. Meanwhile the Australian team discovered 6 which they designated 1-6 (1-3 had already been named by the NASA team who published first). The remaining rings were named separately. In order of increasing distance from the planet, they are 1986U2R, 6, 5, 4, Alpha, Beta, Eta, Gamma, Delta, Lambda, Epsilon, Nu and Mu.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Where in the Solar System?<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Finding Uranus in our solar system is easy. Uranus is the seventh planet in our solar system and presides between Saturn and Neptune.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Where<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The blue circle in the image above outlines Uranus in our solar system<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Uranus has an average distance of 2.887 billion kilometres or 19.2 Astronomical Units (1 AU is the average distance from Earth and the Sun, which is 149,600,000 km) from the sun. At its perihelion (closest point to the sun in its orbit) Uranus is 18.4 AU’s while at its aphelion (furthest point in its orbit from the sun) it is 20.1 AU’s.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In relation to Earth, the average distance of Uranus is 18.2 AU’s or 2,723,950,000 km or 1,692,662,530 miles.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The closest planet to Uranus in our solar system is Saturn which has an average distance of 9.7 AU’s or 1,448,950,000 km or 900,377,530 miles. In the other direction Neptune orbits the sun at an average distance of 10.8 AU’s or 1,627,450,000 km 1,011,297,430 miles from Uranus.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Quick Stats<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Moons<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Rings<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Orbit<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Orbit Period<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Orbital Distance<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,870,658,186 km<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Mean Orbital Velocity<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24,477 km\/h<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Eccentricity<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.04725744<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Average Distance from the Sun<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.887 billion km<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Perihelion (Closest)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.741 billion km<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Aphelion (furthest)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.003 billion km<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Mean orbital velocity <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6.80 km\/s<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Max. orbital velocity<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.11 km\/s<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Min. orbital velocity<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6.49 km\/s<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Rotation<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Rotational Period<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

17.23992 Hours<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Obliquity (axel tilt)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

97.8\u00b0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Dimensions<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Equatorial Radius<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

25,362 km<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Equatorial Circumference<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

159,354.1 km<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Polar Circumference<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24,973 km<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Surface Area<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

 8,083,079,690 km2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Atmosphere<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Atmospheric composition<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Molecular hydrogen (H2<\/sub>) – 82.5; Helium (He) – 15.2% ;<\/span><\/p>\n

Methane (CH4<\/sub>) – 2.3%<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Aerosols<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Ammonia ice, water ice<\/a>, ammonia hydrosulfide, methane ice<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Wind speeds<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0-250 meters per second<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Additional<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Density<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.270 g\/cm3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Mass (Earth=1)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

14.5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Mass Scientific<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8.6810 x 1025 kg<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Gravity<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8.87 m\/s2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Max Temp<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

-153 \u00b0C<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Min Temp<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

-216 \u00b0C<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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