Uranus

Overview

• Uranus, unlike like Jupiter and Saturn is an Ice Giant
• Unlike Earth, Uranus rotates on its side and along with Venus it rotates in the opposite direction to all other planets
• It is surrounded by 13 faint rings and has 27 moons
• One Uranus day lasts 17 Earth Hours

Size and Distances

• Uranus is 1.8 billion miles or 2.9 billion kilometres from the Sun
• It is 4 times the size of Earth with a diameter of 31584 miles or 50724 kilometres
• Uranus at its closest is 1.6 billion miles or 2.6 billion kilometres from Earth
• It is the Third largest Plant in the Solar System

Composition

• Uranus is mostly made of flowing ice materials above a solid core
• It doesn't have a true surface as it is mostly swirling fluids
• Originally thought to be a Gas Giant like Saturn and Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune now have a class of their own - Ice Giants
• Despite being a lot bigger than Earth, you would only experience less than 90% of the Gravity of here on Earth if you were able to stand on Uranus

Temperature and Atmosphere

• The average temperature on Uranus is -195 degrees celsius
• The upper atmosphere of Uranus is covered with methane which hides much of Uranus away
• Like the Gas Giants, it has a hydrogen upper layer with Helium mixed in with it
• The upper atmosphere is made of water, ammonia and the methane ice crystals that give the planet its pale blue colour