Planet Uranus
Introduction
Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun and is the third-largest in the Solar System.
It was discovered by William Herschel in 1781 and is named after the ancient Greek deity of the sky.
A gas giant similar in composition to Neptune, Uranus differs primarily in its unique rotational axis.
Key Facts
- Distance from the Sun: 2.87 billion km (1.78 billion miles)
- Mass: 8.68 × 10^25 kg (14.5 Earth masses)
- Equatorial Diameter: 51,118 km (31,763 miles)
- Orbit Period: 84 years
- Number of Moons: 27
Unique Characteristics
Uranus is best known for its unique rotation. While most planets in our Solar System
have an axial tilt of roughly 23 degrees, Uranus sits almost on its side with an axial
tilt of about 98 degrees. This results in extreme seasonal variations as each pole of
the planet is alternatively exposed to sunlight for about 42 Earth years while the other
experiences complete darkness.
Uranus’ Rings and Moons
The planet Uranus is surrounded by a system of rings, much like its gas giant counterparts,
Saturn and Jupiter. However, the rings of Uranus are much darker and less complex. The
planet is also accompanied by 27 known moons, each with its own unique characteristics.
Exploration and Research
Although Uranus has been observed from Earth since its discovery, it has only been visited once
by a spacecraft. In 1986, NASA’s Voyager 2 flew by the planet, taking photographs and gathering
valuable data about its atmosphere, rings, and moons. This remains the only mission to have studied
Uranus up close.
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