Planet Uranus Facts

Uranus Overview

• Uranus is a gas giant planet located in the outer solar system.
• It appears blue-green due to its composition, mainly consisting of methane gas.
• Uranus is the third-largest planet in our solar system and the seventh planet from the Sun.

Orbital Characteristics

• Uranus orbits approximately 1.8 billion miles from the Sun.
• It takes 84 years to complete one revolution around the Sun.
• Despite its extremely long year, Uranus has a shorter day, with its rotation period lasting almost 18 hours.

Size and Composition

• Uranus has a diameter of nearly 32,000 miles, compared to Earth's diameter of approximately 8,000 miles.
• The planet is primarily composed of frozen gases, such as methane and ammonia, which contribute to its blue-green color.

Unique Rotation

• Uranus spins on its side, unlike other planets, which spin upright.
• Astronomers believe this unusual rotation is the result of a massive impact in the distant past.

Rings

• Uranus has rings, similar to Saturn, but composed of dark material that doesn't shine or glow.
• The rings rotate in a rolling position, matching the planet's orbit, and are vertical compared to the planet.

Moons and Discovery

• Uranus has 27 moons, many of which are named after characters from William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream.
• The planet was discovered by William Herschel in 1781 using a telescope, making it the first planet to be discovered using this method.

Temperature and Classification

• Uranus is the coldest planet in the solar system, with temperatures around minus 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Due to its composition of frozen gases, astronomers sometimes refer to Uranus as an ice giant rather than a gas giant.