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Astronomy

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    $\begingroup$ My understanding is that it is because the electrically conductive fluid layer that is the seat of the dynamo is much closer to the surface than it is in say Jupiter, Saturn or either the Earth. But I will be interesting to hear about the latest research... $\endgroup$
    – ProfRob
    Commented May 20, 2021 at 12:36
  • $\begingroup$ rotational axis and magnetic axis are generally not co-aligened (yet usually share a common centre much better than for these two ice giants). There's an article in Nature by Jonathan Aurnou (2004): nature.com/articles/428134a $\endgroup$
    – planetmaker
    Commented May 20, 2021 at 15:11
  • $\begingroup$ Note that those two images are not complete pictures of the Uranian and Neptunian magnetic fields. The planets host strong quadrupola magnetic components, all of which, in those pictures of the field lines, are assigned to the strength of one dipole. $\endgroup$
    – AtmosphericPrisonEscape
    Commented May 20, 2021 at 21:58