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Uranus - Uranus's Internal Structure

Evidence indicates that Uranus may have a silicate rock core (perhaps rich in iron and magnesium), which is 4,800 km in diameter (approximately 40% of the planet's mass). The mantle is likely ice or ice-rock mixture (water ice, methane ice, ammonia ice) that may be molten in part (perhaps evidence of convention produced in the magnetic field). Above the mantle is the lower atmosphere, which consists of molecular (gaseous) hydrogen, helium, and traces of other gasses (approximately 10% of planet's mass). Finally, the upper atmosphere is methane with cloud layers of ammonia or water ice. The magnetic field discovered and mapped by Voyager 2 implies a field generating region in Uranus' interior which extends out to 0.7 of Uranus radius from the center, and that part of Uranus' interior is a fluid and has a high internal temperature.



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9 months ago

Uranus is the only gas giant that does not have an internal source of heat. The core temperature of Jupiter is 88000 C:Saturn is 20200 C:Neptune is 10000 C but Uranus is far less. It is no more than 5000 C. Uranus is a frigid giant. Even the core of the planet Earth is hotter. The Earth's inner core is more than 6600 C. It is warmer than Uranus inner core. But this is an exception. Normally, the gas giants have a much warmer inner core than the rocky planets. The Earth's inner core and the gas giants cores (except Uranus) have hotter temperatures than the surface temperature of the white-yellow SUN of 6014.2 C or 10857.6 F. I take astronomy classes and I can say that I am blessed that the Lord God has given me the true privilege of studying His infinite creations without number. Is it possible that my comment be posted? Thank you