When we think of the planet Uranus, we think of a freezing cold, rolling blue ball in space. The average temperature of the planet is approximately minus 360 degrees Fahrenheit or minus 216 degrees Celsius - brrrrrrr, that sure is one freezing-cold environment! It is officially the coldest planet in the solar system as it gives off more heat than it absorbs from the sun.
Some interesting facts about the blue planet are that it is the seventh planet in the solar system and it’s the third largest in diameter. The reason that the planet is blue in colour is due to the large amounts of methane in the atmosphere. The gases on the planet are primarily hydrogen, with smaller amounts of helium and very small amounts of methane.
Uranus is unique from the other planets as it is turned over on its side, whereas the other planets do not have as much of a tilt. If viewed they look similar to spinning tops as they go around the Sun, but Uranus resembles a ball rolling on its side. You don’t need a telescope to view the rolling blue ball either, as it’s possible to see the planet without a telescope. Of course, you need to be able to know exactly where to look and will need extremely dark skies - perhaps use a pair of binoculars just in case!
Another interesting fact is that there has only been one visit to the planet. NASA’s Voyager 2 brushed past Uranus in January 1986 on the way to Neptune. It did take thousands of photographs which are the only ones that are viewed and there are no plans to send any more spacecraft to it. Poor Uranus - it is compared to a boring blue ball which has only been ‘papped’ once.
Some interesting facts about the blue planet are that it is the seventh planet in the solar system and it’s the third largest in diameter. The reason that the planet is blue in colour is due to the large amounts of methane in the atmosphere. The gases on the planet are primarily hydrogen, with smaller amounts of helium and very small amounts of methane.
Uranus is unique from the other planets as it is turned over on its side, whereas the other planets do not have as much of a tilt. If viewed they look similar to spinning tops as they go around the Sun, but Uranus resembles a ball rolling on its side. You don’t need a telescope to view the rolling blue ball either, as it’s possible to see the planet without a telescope. Of course, you need to be able to know exactly where to look and will need extremely dark skies - perhaps use a pair of binoculars just in case!
Another interesting fact is that there has only been one visit to the planet. NASA’s Voyager 2 brushed past Uranus in January 1986 on the way to Neptune. It did take thousands of photographs which are the only ones that are viewed and there are no plans to send any more spacecraft to it. Poor Uranus - it is compared to a boring blue ball which has only been ‘papped’ once.
