Uranus
Diameter: 50,724 km
Surface area: 8,083,079,690 km²
Mass: 8.681 x 1025 kg
Density: 1.27 g/cm³
Gravity: 8.87 m/s²
Distance from the Sun: 2,870,658,186 km
Natural Satellite: 27 Known Moons
Rotation period: 17 hours and 14 minutes
Translation period: 84 terrestrial years
Average temperature: -197°C
Atmospheric composition: hydrogen, helium and methane
Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun and the third largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter and Saturn. Its mass is approximately 14 times that of Earth, and it is four times its size. Like Neptune, it is nicknamed the Ice Giant due to its average surface temperature of -197 ºC (due to its distance from the Sun) and its composition.
The planet's atmosphere is formed by hydrogen, helium and methane, which is the element responsible for the bluish-green color observed in images obtained from telescopes. There are also very small amounts of water and ammonia in its atmospheric composition, where, in the lower layers (troposphere), there is cloud formation. Atmospheric winds on Uranus reach speeds of up to 900 km/h.
One of the most curious aspects of Uranus is its magnetosphere. The magnetic axis of this planet has a large inclination of about 60 degrees with respect to its axis of rotation. Furthermore, he finds himself displaced from the center.
Another unique feature of Uranus is the 97.7° inclination of its equator. Seasons are therefore described as the most extreme in the Solar System. At the solstices, while one hemisphere receives light for the entire period, the other plunges into complete darkness for about 21 Earth years.
The North Pole stands out (right) even in amateur photographs because of its lighter color compared to the rest of the planet.
