Facts and Info about
the Planet Uranus

Facts About

Facts and Info about the Planet Uranus
Uranus is the ancient Greek God of the Heavens, Uranus was the son of Gaia (alternative name used for the Planet Earth).
Due to its distance from Earth, Uranus was not correctly identified as a Planet until march 1781 when the English astronomer William Herschel correctly identified it, he named it "Georgium Sidus" in honour of King George III.

The Planet was not commonly known as Uranus until the mid 19th century when it was deemed more in keeping with the names already given to the other Planet's to re-name it Uranus at the suggestion of the German astronomer Johann Elert Bode.

As can be seen in the picture, in common with the other Gas Planets in the Solar System, Uranus has a series of rings. The only Spacecraft that has visited Uranus to date is the American "Voyager 2", which did so in 1986.

How far is the Planet Uranus away from the Sun ?
Uranus is the sixth furthest planet in our Solar system from the Sun, the average distance being 2871 million Km (19.22 Au), Earth by comparison is nineteen times this distance away from the Sun.

How big is it? Interesting Facts about the Planet Uranus

The Planet Uranus has a diameter of about 51118km, four times that of the Earth, this makes it the third largest Planet in our Solar System, and it's mass is in the order of 8.69e25 kg, fourteen and a half times greater than that of Earth.

What is it like on the surface of the Planet Uranus ?
Uranus is a gas planet consisting of mainly rock and approximately 15% hydrogen. The atmosphere of the Planet is approximately 83% hydrogen, 15% helium and 2% methane, the latter is responsible for the Planets blue colour, it absorbs red light causing the apparent colour to have a blue cast.

Does the Planet Uranus have any Moons ?
There are twenty seven known satellites, the best known are Cordelia, Ophelia, Bianca, Cressida, Desdemona, Juliet, Portia, Rosalind, Belinda, Puck, Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, Oberon, Caliban, Stephano, Trinculo, Sycorax, Prospero and Setebos. As will be apparent, the names of the satellites come from the works of Shakespeare and Pope.

Planets and Solar System Index

Facts About Index

Privacy Statement

Cookie Policy

© 2017 Siteseen Ltd