Uranus
Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun. Its name is a reference to the Greek god of the sky, Uranus, who, according to Greek mythology, was the grandfather of Zeus (Jupiter) and father of Cronus (Saturn). It has the third-largest planetary radius and fourth-largest planetary mass in the Solar System
Uranus is similar in composition to Neptune, and both have bulk chemical compositions which differ from that of the larger gas giants Jupiter and Saturn. For this reason, scientists often classify Uranus and Neptune as "ice giants" to distinguish them from the other gas giants. Uranus's atmosphere is similar to Jupiter's and Saturn's in its primary composition of hydrogen and helium, but it contains more "ices" such as water, ammonia, and methane, along with traces of other hydrocarbons.
Uranus Facts
- Distance from Sun: 2,871 billion km
- Orbital period: 84 years
- Radius: 25 362 km
- Named after: the Latin form Ūranus of the Greek god Οὐρανός Ouranos
- Discoverer: William Herschel
- Moons: Umbriel, Titania, Oberon, Miranda, Ariel, Puck, Desdemona, MORE