Smaller and colder than Jupiter and Saturn

Tilted 98 degrees on its side

• very unusual seasons

• a previous collision?

• resultant heat loss?

Hydrogen and helium atmosphere, with trace methane (blue)

• cold atmosphere has less energy, storms and clouds, than Jupiter and Saturn

• clouds more prominent in some seasons?

Rings

• dark and black (methane by-products) – difficult to see

• cometary remnants?

• shepherd moons push and hold the rings in place

Many major and minor moons – accreted asteroids?

• Oberon, Titania, and & Ariel: rock and ice, heavily cratered, some erosion features?

• Umbrial & Miranda: rock and ice, heavily cratered, inert

	Black Rings	Ring Mosaic
	Shepherd Satellites	Miranda
Images of Uranus, its moons, and its rings. [NASA]