Page 266 - DK Children's Encyclopedia

Uranus SEE ALSO

▸ ▸ Atmosphere p.33
▸ ▸ Elements p.90
Uranus is the third largest planet in the ▸ ▸ Gases p.117
solar system, after Jupiter and Saturn. ▸ ▸ Mixtures p.168
It is the second farthest planet from the ▸ ▸ Neptune p.183

sun. From Earth, Uranus looks like a ▸ ▸ Solar system
very faint star. p.233

The atmosphere of
Ice giant Uranus is mostly
Uranus is an "ice giant"—it has made of hydrogen
and helium gas. It
a rocky core that is surrounded is very cold.
by a mixture of liquid ices.
Uranus has no solid surface.

Rolling planet
Most planets spin like tops on their
axis, but Uranus spins on its side like
a rolling ball. Its tilt was probably
caused by a giant crash with another
planet-sized body.

Earth is slightly
tilted and spins
from west to east.
Uranus
Earth

Uranus is very tilted
and spins from east
to west.

Few features
The spacecraft Voyager 2 visited the Uranus is the
Uranus system in 1986. Images sent back coldest planet in
to Earth revealed 10 new moons and two the solar system, with
new rings but few other features. temperatures as low as
–371°F (–224°C).

Uranus has thin,
Voyager 2 dark rings that
are hard to see.

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