Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun and is notable for its striking blue-green color, which is a result of methane in its atmosphere. This ice giant is unique in the solar system due to its extreme axial tilt of about 98 degrees, meaning it rotates on its side. This unusual orientation likely stems from a colossal collision with an Earth-sized object long ago, which has had significant implications for its weather and ring system. The planet's rotation leads to extreme seasonal variations; each pole experiences 42 years of continuous sunlight followed by 42 years of darkness.
Uranus is composed mainly of hydrogen and helium, with a higher proportion of "ices" such as water, ammonia, and methane, compared to gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn. This composition contributes to its classification as an ice giant. Beneath its cloud tops lies a frigid, thick atmosphere over an icy, rocky core. The temperature at the cloud tops is about -224 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest planet in the solar system.
The planet also possesses a faint ring system, which was the first to be discovered after Saturn's. Its rings are composed primarily of dark particles, possibly resulting from ancient moons shattered by impacts. Uranus has 27 known moons, with the largest being Titania, Oberon, Umbriel, Ariel, and Miranda. These moons are named after characters from the works of Shakespeare and Alexander Pope. The planet was visited by NASA’s Voyager 2 in 1986, providing most of the current detailed knowledge about the planet and its system. Since then, observations continue through telescopes, enhancing our understanding of this distant and mysterious world.
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