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Uranus

Uranus in 1986 by Voyager 2

Discovery Discovered by William Herschel Discovery date March 13, 1781 Designations /jrns/ or Pronunciation rens/[1][2] Adjective Uranian
i i

/j

Orbital characteristics[3][a]
Epoch J2000

3,004,419,704 km 20.083 305 26 AU 2,748,938,461 km 18.375 518 63 AU 2,876,679,082 km

Aphelion

Perihelion

Semi-major axis Eccentricity Orbital period 19.229 411 95 AU 0.044 405 586 30,799.095 days 84.323 326 yr

42,718 Uranus solar days[4] Synodic period 369.66 days[5]

Average 6.81 km/s[5] orbital speed Mean anomaly 142.955 717 0.772 556 to Ecliptic Inclination 6.48 to Sun's equator 1.02 to Invariable plane[6] Longitude of 73.989 821 ascending node Argument of 96.541 318 perihelion Satellites 27 Physical characteristics Equatorial 25,559 4 km radius 4.007 Earths[7][b] 24,973 20 km Polar radius 3.929 Earths[7][b] Flattening 0.022 9 0.000 8[c] Circumference 159,354.1 km[8] 8.115 6109 km2[8][b] Surface area 15.91 Earths 6.8331013 km3[5][b] Volume 63.086 Earths (8.6810 0.0013)1025 kg Mass 14.536 Earths[9] GM=5 793 939 13 km3/s2 Mean density 1.27 g/cm3[5][b] Equatorial 8.69 m/s2[5][b] surface gravity 0.886 g Escape velocity 21.3 km/s[5][b] Sidereal 0.718 33 day rotation 17 h 14 min 24 s[7] period Equatorial 2.59 km/s rotation velocity 9,320 km/h Axial tilt 97.77[7] North pole right 17 h 9 min 15 s ascension 257.311[7] North pole 15.175[7] declination 0.300 (Bond) Albedo 0.51 (geom.)[5] Surface temp. min mean max 1 bar level[11] 76 K

0.1 bar 49 K 53 K (tropopause)[12] Apparent 5.9[10] to 5.32[5] magnitude Angular 3.3"4.1"[5] diameter Atmosphere[12][13][14][d] Scale height 27.7 km[5] (Below 1.3 bar)

57 K

83 3% 15 3% 2.3% 0.009% (0.007 Composition 0.015%) Ices:

hydrogen (H2) helium methane hydrogen deuteride (HD)[15] ammonia water ammonium hydrosulfide (NH4SH) methane (CH4)

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Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun. It has the third-largest planetary radius and fourth-largest planetary mass in the Solar System. It is named after the ancient Greek deity of the sky Uranus (Greek: the father of Cronus (Saturn) and grandfather of Zeus ), (Jupiter). Though it is visible to the naked eye like the five classical planets, it was never recognized as a planet by ancient observers because of its dimness and slow orbit.[16] Sir William Herschel announced its discovery on March 13, 1781, expanding the known boundaries of the Solar System for the first time in modern history. Uranus was also the first planet discovered with a telescope. Uranus is similar in composition to Neptune, and both are of different chemical composition than the larger gas giants, Jupiter and Saturn. Astronomers sometimes place them in a separate category called "ice giants". Uranus's atmosphere, while similar to Jupiter and Saturn's in its primary composition of hydrogen and helium, contains more "ices" such as water, ammonia and methane, along with traces of hydrocarbons.[12] It is the coldest planetary atmosphere in the Solar System, with a minimum temperature of 49 K (224 C). It has a complex, layered cloud structure, with water thought to make up the lowest clouds, and methane thought to make up the uppermost layer of clouds.[12] In contrast, the interior of Uranus is mainly composed of ices and rock.[11]

Like the other giant planets, Uranus has a ring system, a magnetosphere, and numerous moons. The Uranian system has a unique configuration among the planets because its axis of rotation is tilted sideways, nearly into the plane of its revolution about the Sun. Its north and south poles therefore lie where most other planets have their equators.[17] In 1986, images from Voyager 2 showed Uranus as a virtually featureless planet in visible light without the cloud bands or storms associated with the other giants.[17] Terrestrial observers have seen signs of seasonal change and increased weather activity in recent years as Uranus approached its equinox. The wind speeds on Uranus can reach 250 meters per second (900 km/h, 560 mph).

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