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Questions tagged [uranus]

Questions regarding Uranus, the 7th planet from Earth's sun.

29 votes
1 answer
3k views

How is Uranus' north pole defined?

The rotation axis of the planet Uranus is tilted by 98° compared to its plane of orbit. This means that the north pole of Uranus is "under" the ecliptic compared to the north pole of other planets. ...
usernumber's user avatar
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28 votes
3 answers
2k views

What is the accepted theory as to why Uranus' axis is tilted so severely?

The planet Uranus is another solar system anomaly, where according to the NASA profile has an axial tilt of 97.8 degrees, also considered to be retrograde. This NASA summary "Uranus" suggests the ...
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24 votes
4 answers
4k views

Why is Neptune a darker blue than Uranus?

If Neptune and Uranus have similar composition then why is Neptune a darker blue than Uranus?
sno's user avatar
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23 votes
3 answers
8k views

Why wasn't the planet Uranus recognized by ancient cultures?

Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn have been identified by ancient astronomers as they are visible with naked eye at night. The planet Uranus, despite being visible during very clear nights, ...
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23 votes
5 answers
8k views

Why is Uranus called a "green planet"?

Uranus is called a green planet, although it appears blue in many of the photographs including those taken by spacecraft, like Voyager 2, Hubble, and JWST. NASA's Uranus page mentions it to be bluish-...
Dhruv Nayak's user avatar
23 votes
1 answer
6k views

Why do some planets have rings?

Some planets, specifically Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune in our solar system, have planetary rings. Why do some planets have rings? How are they made and from what? Most importantly, will I ...
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19 votes
2 answers
3k views

Will Neptune be visible with the naked eye if I am standing on its satellite

Assume that I am standing on one of the many satellites of Neptune. Will I be able to see the planet with my naked eyes (without any sort of visual aid). If I was to stand on Moon I would be able to ...
Rahul Kadukar's user avatar
15 votes
3 answers
5k views

Why is Uranus colder than Neptune?

Excluding dwarf planets, such as Pluto which are trans-neptunian objects obviously further away from the sun, so due to inverse square law less area of light and therefore less heat, of course things ...
Arjun's user avatar
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13 votes
4 answers
4k views

Could Neptune be viewed with the naked eye from Uranus?

Which star or planet in our night sky can match what Neptune would look like when viewed from Uranus, or one of its moons? The answer would be for the most favourable condition, which is when Neptune ...
Constantthin's user avatar
13 votes
1 answer
2k views

How is it possible for a collision to be responsible for Uranus's axial tilt?

I realize that the collision explanation is in any case highly (purely?) speculative, but I'm curious how it would work. If Uranus is a ball of gas, why wouldn't any colliding object just pass ...
Kurt Weber's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
410 views

If the axial tilt of Uranus (97°) was caused by a giant impact, then why do its moons orbit around its equator at the same tilt (≈97°)?

So the most accepted explanation for Uranus' axial tilt is that it once had a normal tilt like the other planets bar Venus (0° to 30°), but then a certain massive object collided with it and flipped ...
user177107's user avatar
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10 votes
3 answers
4k views

Are spacecraft visits to Uranus and Neptune hard to plan?

Until today, Voyager 2 remains the only spacecraft to visit these planets. Are spacecraft visits to these planets hard to plan or develop?
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10 votes
1 answer
3k views

Why do Uranus and Neptune have more methane than Jupiter and Saturn?

So the standard theory of the solar nebula is that in the region of the gas planets, ice and rock could condense to form planetesimals, which could then accrete hydrogen and helium to form the gas ...
cduston's user avatar
  • 255
9 votes
1 answer
899 views

Which star did Uranus occult in 1977 when the planet's rings were discovered?

In 1977, Uranus occulted a star, and the starlight flickered 40 minutes before and after the actual occultation, revealing Uranus' rings.This is common knowledge to astronomers, but what I can't find ...
George A. Solodun's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
320 views

What are the current accepted theories of the formation of the Uranian moon Miranda?

Miranda, a moon of Uranus is unique in that it has a very fractured surface Source: University of Oregon The surface is said to be jagged and fractured, with comparatively large disjointed cliffs ...
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