This is a drawing which illustrates the composition of the atmosphere of Uranus relative to possibilities for other planets.
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An Overview of Uranus' Atmospheric Composition

Unlike Saturn and Jupiter, where the atmosphere is mostly hydrogen and helium, the atmosphere of Uranus contains a greater percentage of the more complex gases, such as methane. There are clouds of methane ice low in the troposphere. Present also in large percentages are very sophisticated atmospheric constituents such as ethane gas, acetylene, and diacetylene. These form hazes high in the upper atmosphere.

One of the reasons these are the primary constituents of the atmosphere of Uranus is that Uranus evolved from the more sophisticated hydrocarbons and ices rather than solely from hydrogen and helium.


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Uranus' Methane Clouds

The methane cloud deck of Uranus is found low in the troposphere. The methane clouds are the only clouds to be found on Uranus. The location of the clouds is predicted based upon the temperature at which...more

Uranus' Atmospheric Hazes

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Uranus Clouds, Overview

The clouds of Uranus, composed of methane crystals, are found very low in the troposphere, and are difficult to distinquish below the smog haz es of the planet's atmosphere. False color is used, in the...more

The position of Uranus when gas changed to ice

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Uranus' Mesosphere

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An Overview of Uranus' Atmospheric Structure

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Altitude Variations of the Belts & Zones

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