What makes uranus unique

Uranus has a diameter four times the length of Earth. Even though Uranus is only four times the size of Earth, it is significantly more massive because of its characteristics as an ice giant. With a weight of 86 septillion kilograms, Uranus is Uranus is one of the two ice giants in the Solar System, the other being Neptune.

The blue-green color comes from the methane gas. Voyager 2 found only a few clouds in the planet's atmosphere. Uranus also has a very interesting rotation. It rotates sideways, making a continuous 21 years of sunlight followed by 21 years of darkness. Uranus takes 84 years to orbit the Sun.

Uranus also has rings, similar to Saturn. Because of the unique rotation, the rings and moons surrounding Uranus rotate like a ferris wheel. Full Moon Guide: October - November First X-rays from Uranus Discovered. Planetary scientist Geronimo Villanueva created the sunset simulations while building a tool for a possible mission to Uranus.

Our solar system is a stormy place. Join us on a tour of storms. The next-generation radiometer is being developed to study the atmospheres of Uranus or Neptune, but could be used to study any atmosphere. Meet the women leading two of humankind's two most distant space missions.

Women at the Helm. Hubble uncovered a new dark storm on Neptune and provided a fresh look at a long-lived storm on Uranus. Hydrogen sulfide, the gas that gives rotten eggs their distinctive odor, has been verified as one of the key components of clouds at Uranus. We're talking about the ice giants.

These are two enormous planets in our outer solar system: Uranus and Neptune. Ten things to know about Voyager 2 on the 40th anniversary of its launch. In a flurry of new moon discoveries in late and early , it was announced by this author - and several other sources - that the planet Uranus had 21 moons. Stone, JPL's director since , is stepping down on May 1. A Conversation with Dr. Ed Stone. Auroras on Uranus are not in line with the poles like they are on Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn due to the lopsided magnetic field.

The magnetosphere tail behind Uranus opposite the Sun extends into space for millions of miles. Introduction The seventh planet from the Sun with the third largest diameter in our solar system, Uranus is very cold and windy. Potential for Life Potential for Life Uranus' environment is not conducive to life as we know it. Size and Distance Size and Distance With a radius of 15, Orbit and Rotation Orbit and Rotation One day on Uranus takes about 17 hours the time it takes for Uranus to rotate or spin once.

Moons Moons Uranus has 27 known moons. Rings Rings Uranus has two sets of rings. Formation Formation Uranus took shape when the rest of the solar system formed about 4. Structure Structure Uranus is one of two ice giants in the outer solar system the other is Neptune.

A 3D model of Uranus. JPL's lucky peanuts are an unofficial tradition at big mission events. Full Moon Guide: October - November A new paper details how the hydrological cycle of the now-dry lake at Jezero Crater is more complicated than originally thought.

The lander cleared enough dust from one solar panel to keep its seismometer on through the summer, allowing scientists to study three big quakes.

This year, the minimum extent of Arctic sea ice dropped to 1. Researchers will use Webb to observe 17 actively forming planetary systems. Scientists found evidence that an area on Mars called Arabia Terra had thousands of "super eruptions" over a million-year period. Perseverance successfully collected its first pair of rock samples, and scientists already are gaining new insights into the region. Data received late Sept. The rover will abrade a rock this week, allowing scientists and engineers to decide whether that target would withstand its powerful drill.

Drought is a complicated problem that requires lots of data. Satellites from NASA and its partners help collect that data. Drought Makes its Home on the Range. Gene Roddenberry would have been years old on Aug. The images show Venus approaching from the left while the Sun is off-camera to the upper right.