Pronounced yu RAY nuhs or YUR uh nus, Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun. Neptune and Pluto follow behind the planet. Uranus has a diameter of about 31,163 miles (51,118 kilometers), which is more than four times the earth's diameter.

 

 

The planet Uranus travels around the Sun in an elliptical orbit (oval shape). Its mean distance from the Sun is around 1.7864 billion miles (2.875 billion kilometers). Uranus takes 30,685 earth-days to go around the Sun. During the point of its orbit when it is closer to the earth, the planet is about 1.607 billion miles (2.587 billion kilometers) away.

 

While orbiting the Sun, Uranus rotates on its axis, which is an imaginary line through the planet's center. Most planets have their axis perpendicular (straight up and down at a 90 degree angle), but the Uranus axis is tilted 98 degrees from the average perpendicular position. The axis tilt and the rapid rotation speed cause the planet to appear as though it is "rolling" along its orbital path.

 

 

The planet Uranus consists mostly of dense, cold gas. The center of Uranus is just a small rock core. Astronomers estimate that the temperature of this planet is -357 degrees F (-216 degrees C). Uranus has 15 known satellites. The planet also has at least 11 thin rings around it. The rings are less brilliant that those of Saturn. They are believed to be constructed of chunks of an unknown black substance.

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Images of Uranus

 

Enhanced image of the rings on Uranus.

http://bang.lanl.gov/solarsys/uranus.htm

Image of Uranus and its moons.

http://bang.lanl.gov/solarsys/uranus.htm

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