Uranus

Uranus is a giant planet that is very far from the Sun. It looks like a pale blue-green ball. Uranus is so big that about 63 Earths could fit inside it. It is made mostly of gas and ice, so you cannot stand on it. Uranus is very, very cold and windy.

A Planet on Its Side

Uranus is strange because it spins on its side. Most planets spin like a top, but Uranus rolls like a ball. Scientists think a huge space rock may have hit Uranus long ago and tipped it over. This means one side can face the Sun for many years at a time.

Rings and Moons

Uranus has thin, dark rings around it. It also has 27 known moons. The moons are named after people from stories by William Shakespeare. The biggest moons are called Titania, Oberon, Umbriel, Ariel, and Miranda.

Fun Facts

• Uranus is the coldest planet in our solar system, with temperatures near minus 371 degrees Fahrenheit.
• A year on Uranus lasts 84 Earth years because it is so far from the Sun.
• Uranus was the first planet found using a telescope, back in 1781.

Did You Know?

Uranus looks blue-green because of a gas called methane in its clouds. Methane soaks up the red light from the Sun and sends back the blue light.