Interesting Facts about Uranus

18 Nov, 2010 facts

Uranus is the 7th planet in the solar system and the third largest in diameter. It is a large blue gas giant. Uranus is the coldest planet in the solar system and actually gives off less heat than it absorbs from the sun. The average temperature on Uranus is around minus 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Uranus does not have a liquid metallic core like the other gas giants. Uranus has 13 faint rings that are dark and difficult to see. Here are some other interesting facts about the planet Uranus.

Uranus takes 84 years to complete its orbit around the sun. Each season lasts for approximately 20 years
The bluish color of the planet is due to the large amounts of methane in the atmosphere. Methane absorbs red light and reflects blue light. The gases on Uranus are primarily hydrogen, with smaller amounts of helium and very small amounts of methane.
The planet Uranus was discovered by William Herschel on March 13, 1781 and was originally named Georgium Sidus (George’s Star). The name was later changed to Uranus after William Herschel died.
The planet Uranus was thus named as Uranus was the father of Saturn.
Uranus is the only planet with a Greek name rather than a roman one.
Uranus is the only planet that is turned over on its side. Its axis is rotated 99 degrees.
The winds speeds on Uranus can reach up to 250 miles per second.
Uranus has 27 moons but they are fairly small and lightweight. Their names are: Cordelia, Ophelia, Bianca, Cressida, Desdemona, Juliet, Portia, Rosalind, Belinda, Puck, Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, Oberon, Caliban, Sycorax, Prospero, Setebos, Stephano, and 1986U10. The largest moon Titania is about half the diameter of Earth’s moon.
A number of Uranus’s moons orbit in the opposite direction of Uranus.
If we were able to see Uranus’ moons orbiting the planet, they would go over and under the planet like lights on a Ferris wheel.
Uranus is almost identical to the planet Neptune
Uranus has a large rocky core, and because of the tremendous pressure it could possibly contain trillions of large diamonds.
Uranus is almost twice the distance from the sun than Saturn is
A day on Uranus is a little bit shorter than a day on Earth as it takes 17 hours for the planet to rotate on its axis.
Uranus is about four times as large as the Earth and 15 times as heavy.