Uranus Has Diamond Rain
Fact of the day: Uranus has diamond rain.
Uranus is the second to last planet from the sun, at an average of 19.2 astronomical units (2.871 billion km).
(above) Uranus
Uranus is known for both its name and that its axis is at a very large angle, 97.77ยบ to be exact. No one knows how this occurred, but a reasonable hypothesis is that a dwarf planet collided with it in the early stages of its formation. Also, despite the fact that because of its rotation the poles receive more energy from the sun than the equator, the equator is still warmer.
Uranus is composed of mostly hydrogen, helium, methane, and ammonia. Research suggests that in Uranus's mantle, the pressure breaks down the methane molecules, and the carbon from the methane then crystallises to form diamonds, with rain down like hailstones. Also, at the base of the mantle, research suggests that there is a diamond ocean.
A year on Uranus is 84 Earth years, and it takes 17 hours and 14 minutes to rotate once on it axis.
Image from NASA.
Uranus is the second to last planet from the sun, at an average of 19.2 astronomical units (2.871 billion km).
(above) Uranus
Uranus is known for both its name and that its axis is at a very large angle, 97.77ยบ to be exact. No one knows how this occurred, but a reasonable hypothesis is that a dwarf planet collided with it in the early stages of its formation. Also, despite the fact that because of its rotation the poles receive more energy from the sun than the equator, the equator is still warmer.
Uranus is composed of mostly hydrogen, helium, methane, and ammonia. Research suggests that in Uranus's mantle, the pressure breaks down the methane molecules, and the carbon from the methane then crystallises to form diamonds, with rain down like hailstones. Also, at the base of the mantle, research suggests that there is a diamond ocean.
A year on Uranus is 84 Earth years, and it takes 17 hours and 14 minutes to rotate once on it axis.
Image from NASA.
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