This is an image of Uranus' rings.
Click on image for full size
Courtesy of NASA
Uranus' Thermosphere
The thermosphere is the other region of the atmosphere (beside the
stratosphere) where warming takes place. The thermosphere is the outermost region of the atmosphere, and interacts with the
magnetosphere. The temperature is raised by incoming particles from the magnetosphere as well as the sun's ultraviolet radiation. For a picture showing how the temperature changes in this region, click
here.
There is no top, or thermopause, to the thermosphere, and Uranus' atmosphere extends to the distance of the rings, a unique feature among the planets. The rings, therefore, experience the kind of drag that some terrestrial communication satellites also undergo. This drag can cause them to slow down so much in orbit that they fall out of orbit and plunge back to the ground. (as did SKYLAB, circa 1980). In spite of this drag, Uranus' rings are perpetually replenished. The ring particles seem to be very much younger than Uranus itself. The source of fresh material for Uranus' rings remains a mystery.
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This diagram shows the temperature profile of Uranus' stratosphere. The temperature becomes warmer with height until the stratopause, or "top" of the stratosphere is reached. As shown in the figure, the
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This is the temperature profile of Uranus' thermosphere. The thermosphere is the other region of the atmosphere where warming takes place. On Uranus, incoming particles from the magnetosphere play a strong
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