The development of space is constantly moving forward. To date, organized a mass of expeditions, the purpose of which is to study the nearest planets, asteroids and comets. Uranus does not remain aloof. A planet distant a considerable distance from the Earth rotates along an elongated ellipsoidal orbit. For one revolution around the sun it takes as many as 84 Earth years. Interesting is the fact that, since its opening in 1781, Uranus has passed no more than three years.
This cosmic giant is fraught with many interesting and mysterious secrets. For example, the axis of its rotation is significantly different from other axes of the planets of the solar system. Therefore, Uranus is a planet that rotates "lying on its side". Scientists associate this feature with the fact that its equatorial plane is located at an angle of 98 degrees relative to the orbit. If to compare, then Uranus is like a ball, which rolls in a circle, while other planets are more reminiscent of spinning a top or a yule.
Uranus is part of a group of giant planets. It is located in third place in size, yielding, of course, to Jupiter and Saturn. It should be noted that Uranus is a planet 15 times larger than our native Earth in diameter. The discovery of his ring system has become a real sensation in the world of science. In all there are 11, they are narrow, dense and far from each other. These belts are made up of stones, so their color is coal black. Before that, it was believed that only the planet (6th from the Sun) Saturn has a system of rings.
After the "Voyager -2" space probe was explored the planet Uranus, the photos transferred to them made it possible to conclude that initially this cosmic giant was formed from solid rock blocks and ice. It should be understood that under the ice is meant not only water, but also many other chemical substances. It was also found that unlike Saturn and Jupiter, whose atmosphere consists of hydrogen and helium, Uranus air masses also contain acetylene and methane in large quantities. In the central latitudes of the planet, the wind rages, which directs clouds of these gases like terrestrial, its speed reaches 160 m / s. The blue color of Uranus is a consequence of methane absorption of red solar radiation in the uppermost parts of the atmosphere.
There is one more feature that characterizes Uranus. The planet is surrounded at once by four magnetic poles. With their help, Uranus has built around itself a system consisting of satellites and rings. It looks like this. In the inner part of the asteroid belt there are 12 small satellites, then there are 5 main satellites, and 9 smaller space objects are already on the outer side of the rings. Small satellites have a dark surface and reflect only 6-7% of the light falling on them. The 17 satellites closest to the giant planet move within its magnetic field. They never leave it. This phenomenon is still being studied. But it became already clear that the structure of the magnetic sphere of Uranus is much more complicated than that of the Earth, because the satellites exert an additional and quite definite influence on it.