Astronomy Packet:  5 Assignment # 1

Comparative Planetology:

Uranus and Neptune are considered sister planets.  We call them sisters because they are so similar.  Pluto however is different from every other planet in the Solar System.  Pluto is actually more like a comet then a planet.

Uranus and Neptune:

We began our journey through the Solar System talking about the small dense inner planets.  We then explored the very large middle two planets Jupiter, and Saturn.  Uranus and Neptune are in between.  They are not gigantic, but they are not small either.  Uranus takes up 67 times as much space as the Earth while Neptune takes up 57 times as much space.

Planetary ingredients: 

In addition to being so similar in size these two worlds are also made up of the same ingredients.  They have a hard rock core about the size of the Earth.  Around that rock core is a huge liquid water ocean thousands of miles deep.  Think about that, these two worlds actually have liquid water oceans.  On top of the water oceans sits another ocean of liquid Metallic Hydrogen.

Both Uranus and Neptune have an atmosphere of mostly hydrogen, helium, and methane.  The weather of these atmospheres is quite active.  One very large storm on Neptune is similar to Jupiter's great red spot.  This storm is called The Great Dark Spot.

Life:

After talking about the gigantic water oceans of these two worlds we need to talk about life.  Where ever we find liquid water we believe there is a possibility we might also find life.  This may or may not be true for Uranus and Neptune.

The first problem that life would encounter is that at the enormous depths of this ocean there would be absolutely no Sun light what so ever.  Life on the Earth requires either Sunlight or heat from volcanoes to absorb energy.

The second problem that would make it difficult for there to be any life on Uranus or Neptune is the titanic pressure that would squeeze any plants or animals very tightly.  It is impossible for humans to visit the depths of our own oceans, even in submarines because of the pressure.  The pressure of these planets Oceans would be millions of times more powerful.  All of this does not mean there is not life on Uranus or Neptune.  It just means that it is unlikely.

Rings:

Saturn's beautiful ring system is not alone in the Solar System.  Along with Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune both have a system of rings.

Differences:

There are not many differences between these two worlds, but there are some.  The major difference is the way these planets rotate.  Every planet in the Solar System rotates counter clockwise except for Uranus.  Uranus rotates or spins on its side.

It is believed that billions of years ago a very large object possibly as large as the Earth smashed into the side of Uranus.  This collision was so powerful that it completely changed the rotation of Uranus.

Assignment # 1:

Name three similarities between Uranus and Neptune.