Uranus
Uranus as seen by Voyager 2
Uranus, as seen by Voyager 2
Discovery
Discovered byWilliam Herschel
Discovery dateMarch 13, 1781
Designations
AdjectivesUranian
SymbolAstronomical symbol of Uranus
Orbital characteristics[1][a]
Epoch J2000
Aphelion3,004,419,704 km
20.083 305 26 AU
Perihelion2,748,938,461 km
18.375 518 63 AU
2,876,679,082 km
19.229 411 95 AU
Eccentricity0.044 405 586
30,799.095 days
84.323 326 yr
369.66 days[2]
6.81 km/s[2]
142.955 717°
Inclination0.772 556°
6.48° to Sun's equator
73.989 821°
96.541 318°
Known satellites27
Physical characteristics
Equatorial radius
25,559 ± 4 km
4.007 Earths[3][c]
Polar radius
24,973 ± 20 km
3.929 Earths[3][c]
Flattening0.022 9 ± 0.000 8[b]
8.115 6×109 km²[4][c]
15.91 Earths
Volume6.833×1013 km³[2][c]
63.086 Earths
Mass(8.6810 ± 0.0013)×1025 kg
14.536 Earths[5]
GM=5 793 939 ± 13 km³/s²
Mean density
1.27 g/cm³[2][c]
8.69 m/s²[2][c]
0.886 g
21.3 km/s[2][c]
0.718 33 day
17 h 14 min 24 s[3]
Equatorial rotation velocity
2.59 km/s
9,320 km/h
97.77°[3]
North pole right ascension
17 h 9 min 15 s
257.311°[3]
North pole declination
−15.175°[3]
Albedo0.300 (bond)
0.51 (geom.)[2]
Surface temp. min mean max
bar level[6] 76 K
0.1 bar
(tropopause)[7]
49 K 53 K 57 K
5.9[8] to 5.32[2]
3.3"–4.1"[2]
Atmosphere[7][9][10][d]
27.7 km[2]
Composition by volume(Below 1.3 bar)
83 ± 3%Hydrogen (H2)
15 ± 3%Helium
2.3%Methane
0.009%
(0.007–0.015%)
Hydrogen deuteride (HD)[11]
Ices:
Ammonia
water
ammonium hydrosulfide (NH4SH)
methane (CH4)
  1. ^ Yeomans, Donald K. (July 13, 2006). "HORIZONS System". NASA JPL. Retrieved 2007-08-08. — At the site, go to the "web interface" then select "Ephemeris Type: ELEMENTS", "Target Body: Uranus Barycenter" and "Center: Sun".
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Williams, Dr. David R. (January 31, 2005). "Uranus Fact Sheet". NASA. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference Seidelmann2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Munsell, Kirk (May 14, 2007). "NASA: Solar System Exploration: Planets: Uranus: Facts & Figures". NASA. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Jacobson1992 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Podolak1995 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Lunine1993 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference ephemeris was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lindal1987 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Conrath1987 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Feuchtgruber, H. (1999). "Detection of HD in the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune: a new determination of the D/H ratio". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 341: L17–L21. Bibcode:1999A&A...341L..17F. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)