URANUS is one of the three giant planets of the solar system and is the seventh furthest planet from the sun. The atmosphere of Uranus is made of [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3,5″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ] hydrogen and helium and is the coldest in the solar system reaching a minimum temperature of 49K. In addition to be a giant planet, it has a ring system, a magnetosphere and several moons. Uranus appears to have a bluish color which results from the absorption of red light by methane in the atmosphere. While the other planets look like spinning tops as they make their journey around the Sun, Uranus is flipped on its side and appears to be rolling around the Sun and this has a dramatic effect on the seasons on Uranus. It takes 84 earthly years for Uranus to go around the sun. Each season in Uranus takes 21 years. The variation in seasons in Uranus is a result of the axial tilting which is at 98 degrees making it almost parallel to the orbital plane. As a result, the seasons in Uranus vary greatly from other planets in the solar system. The rotational axis tilt of Uranus means that the sun shines directly on each pole, leaving the other half of the planet covered in darkness. [/ihc-hide-content]
