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Uranus
from Voyager 2
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Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus,
Neptune, Pluto
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Uranus
upper atmosphere almost featureless even from Voyager
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Rotation
axis tilted nearly into plain of orbit around Sun!
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98
degree tilt
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net
rotation is retrograde (backwards)
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probably
rotating normally, then hit by something
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what
other planet (that we've learned about so far) has retrograde rotation
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LONG
seasons (~20 years)
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84%
hydrogen, 14% helium, 2% methane
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methane
absorbs reds and yellows
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why
Uranus is greenish blue
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Unlike
Jupiter and Saturn, there is no ammonia (NH3) in Uranus's upper
atmosphere
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Uranus
upper atmosphere temperature is 55K
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ammonia
is frozen, rains down to bottom of atmosphere
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probably
why no water either
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A similar
mechanism may have depleted Helium in the outer atmosphere of what planet?
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ammonia
and water are important constituents of the clouds of what planets?
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Upper
atmosphere winds move west to east (like rotation)
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No
zonal winds like Jupiter or Saturn
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Temperatures
in winter similar at poles and equator (at top of atmosphere)
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must
have good circulation
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