What makes uranus and neptune blue

Why do Uranus and Neptune appear to be blue? Astrophysics Universe Formation Planet Composition. May 2, Methane gas in their atmosphere make them appear blue! Related questions Which planets is least like earth in size and composition? At high altitudes, the composition of Uranus and Neptune is very similar.

The blue color of both the ice giants can be contributed to the presence of methane in their upper atmospheres. Methane absorbs most of the red light incident on the planets which makes them appear blue in color. But there is a difference in the color of these planets: Uranus has a cyan blue color blue-green whereas Neptune has a vivid azure blue color bright blue.

The reason for the deep blue hue of Neptune is still a mystery: the very reason why we need to put an orbiter around Neptune soon. Several missions are being planned to explore Neptune. A mission like Cassini that spent 13 years orbiting Saturn would not only help us explore the secrets of Neptune but also help us to learn about the formation and properties of ice giants. According to a study, distant exoplanets around other stars are more likely to be ice giants like Neptune.

Although there is no official date for its launch, it would take about 8 to 10 years to reach Neptune after it is launched. Do you think it is important for us to launch an orbiter to Neptune soon? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Uranus and Neptune Uranus and Neptune were unknown to ancient astronomers, and were not discovered until after the invention of the telescope. Uranus is just barely visible to the unaided eye, and Neptune requires a telescope to be seen. The blue-green, turquoise color of Uranus and the blue, indigo color of Neptune come from methane in their clouds. Uranus and Neptune have a similar size, mass, and bulk composition and they are both much smaller, less massive, and denser than the other two giant planets, Jupiter and Saturn.

Although Uranus apparently has no strong internal source of heat, Neptune radiates 2. Click here if you want to get more Uranus info. In conclusion, the distinctive blue coloring of these two planets helps them stand out from the others. We know that the methane in their atmosphere is what gives them their coloring, as opposed to water being the reason for this — although they are made out of a whole lot of water beneath the surface. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

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