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ORBONIX · SOLAR SYSTEM
URANUS
The seventh planet from the Sun,
an ice giant with a unique sideways rotation
and a faint system of rings.
2.87 billion km
AVERAGE DISTANCE FROM SUN
50,724 km
DIAMETER
84 YEARS
ORBITAL PERIOD
17.2 HOURS
ROTATION PERIOD
28
KNOWN MOONS
13
KNOWN RINGS
THE ICE GIANT
Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun
and one of the two ice giants in our
Solar System.
Its blue-green color comes mainly from
methane in the upper atmosphere, which
absorbs red wavelengths of sunlight.
Uranus is famous for its extreme axial tilt.
Its rotation axis is tilted by about 98 degrees,
making the planet appear to rotate almost
on its side.
The planet has a faint ring system and
many known moons. Five of its largest moons
are Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania and Oberon.
MAJOR MOONS
MIRANDA
A strange moon with enormous cliffs
and complex geological terrain.
ARIEL
A relatively bright moon with
ancient valleys and geological features.
UMBRIEL
A dark, heavily cratered moon
with an ancient surface.
TITANIA
The largest moon of Uranus,
with large valleys and impact craters.
OBERON
The outermost major moon of Uranus,
with a heavily cratered surface.
SIDEWAYS ROTATION
Uranus rotates with an axial tilt
of approximately 98 degrees.
ICE GIANT
Water, ammonia and methane ices make up
much of Uranus' interior.
FAINT RINGS
Uranus has 13 known rings,
much darker than Saturn's rings.
DID YOU KNOW?
A season on Uranus can last about
21 Earth years.
A PLANET ROTATING ON ITS SIDE
Uranus has an axial tilt of about 98 degrees, so it rotates almost on its side compared with most planets. This unusual orientation produces extreme seasonal illumination as Uranus travels around the Sun during its long orbit.
The planet also has a ring system, a magnetic field that is strongly tilted relative to its rotation axis, and a family of icy moons. Miranda is particularly notable for its varied terrain, including enormous fault systems and unusual geological structures.
IMAGES:
NASA / JPL / VOYAGER 2
PLANET AND MOON IMAGES VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
PLANET AND MOON IMAGES VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS