Uranus

   Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun, has its spin axis almost in the plane of its orbit about the Sun. This produces unusual seasons and also causes unique magnetic and electric field structures. Uranus has a faint ring system and known moons.

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According to <a href="http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2013-277">NASA scientists</a>, the Voyager 1 spacecraft entered interstellar space in August 2012, becoming the first spacecraft to leave the <a href="/our_solar_system/solar_system.html&edu=high&dev=">solar system</a>. The space probe is about 19 billion km from the <a href="/sun/sun.html&edu=high&dev=">Sun</a>. <a href="/space_missions/voyager.html&edu=high&dev=">Voyager 1 and 2</a> were launched in 1977 on a <a href="/space_missions/voyager.html&edu=high&dev=">mission</a> that flew them both by <a href="/jupiter/jupiter.html&edu=high&dev=">Jupiter</a> and <a href="/saturn/saturn.html&edu=high&dev=">Saturn</a>, with Voyager 2 continuing to <a href="/uranus/uranus.html&edu=high&dev=">Uranus</a> and <a href="/neptune/neptune.html&edu=high&dev=">Neptune</a>. Voyager 2 is the longest continuously operated spacecraft. It is about 15 billion km away from the <a href="/sun/sun.html&edu=high&dev=">Sun</a>.<p><small><em>Image courtesy of NASA</em></small></p>The plain aquamarine face of Uranus confirms the fact that Uranus is covered with <a href="/uranus/atmosphere/U_clouds_overview.html&edu=high&dev=">clouds</a>. The sameness of the planet's appearance shows that the planet's atmosphere is mostly <a href="/uranus/atmosphere/U_atm_compo_overview.html&edu=high&dev=">composed</a> of one thing, methane. The planet appears to be blue-green because the <a href="/physical_science/chemistry/methane.html&edu=high&dev=">methane</a> gas of the atmosphere traps red light and does not allow that color to escape. This image was taken by <a href="/space_missions/voyager.html&edu=high&dev=">Voyager 2</a> in 1986.<p><small><em>Image courtesy of NASA</em></small></p>

Explore Uranus

Interior and Surface of Uranus

The Giant planets do not have the same kind of structure inside that the terrestrial planets ...Read more

Atmosphere of Uranus

The bland aquamarine face of Uranus bears witness to the fact that Uranus is enshrouded in ...Read more

Uranus' Magnetosphere

The magnetosphere of Uranus is medium sized, but still much larger than the Earth's. It extends ...Read more

Uranus' Moons and Rings

At Uranus there is a very obvious partial ring, or "ring arc". Many moons are icy moons ...Read more

The Poles of Uranus

Uranus is the tilted planet. Its spin axis, which defines the locations of its North and South ...Read more

Planetary Facts

All of the relevant information about Uranus collected on one page, including details about size, orbit ...Read more

Myth and Culture

Ouranos was the son and husband of Gaea and the first god of the sky. ...Read more

Missions to Uranus

A table containing information about the spacecraft that have visited Uranus ...Read more

Images and Multimedia

Access wonderful captioned photos and illustrations that will inspire and excite you. ...Read more

Uranus Links

These are links to other great web sites about Uranus. But beware: you don't want to get caught ...Read more

More about Uranus

Historical Events

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Teacher Opportunities

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Did you know?

Did you know that Giovanni Schiaparelli's observations of channels on the surface of Mars was mistranslated, causing people to think there was life on Mars?

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Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day

Do you know what this word or phrase means?

Plasmoid
xPlasmoid : A structure of plasma and magnetic fields proposed to explain several natural phenomena including magnetic bubbles in magentospheres and ball lightning

Click on the word to find out!

Research Highlights

Mysterious Clouds Produced When Aircraft Inadvertently Cause Rain or Snow

As turboprop and jet aircraft climb or descend under certain atmospheric conditions, they can inadvertently "seed" mid-level clouds, causing narrow bands of snow or rain to develop and fall to...Read more


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