Uranus

Have you ever heard of a planet that spins on its side? That’s Uranus, first closely observed by the Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1986.

The seventh planet from the Sun, Uranus, is an incredible 1.8 billion miles away. Even traveling as fast as light, sunlight takes more than 2 hours and 40 minutes to reach it.

This icy giant moves slowly around the Sun, taking 84 Earth years to complete just one orbit.

Uranus is the smallest of the outer planets, with a mass about 14 times greater than Earth’s. Because it has less density and weaker gravity, you’d weigh about 10% less there than on Earth.

The planet’s atmosphere comprises hydrogen, helium, and icy materials like water, ammonia, and methane. The methane in its atmosphere absorbs red light from sunlight, scattering blue and green light, which gives Uranus its blue-green color.

What’s unique is how Uranus rotates on its side, encircled by faint rings that align with its equator.

As of 2025, Uranus has 28 moons, the largest of which are Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon.