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Uranus and Neptune are ice giants from "summary" of The Secret World of Stargazing by Adrian West
Uranus and Neptune, the seventh and eighth planets in our solar system, are often referred to as ice giants due to their composition and characteristics. Despite being called giants, they are actually smaller in size compared to the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn. These two planets are composed mainly of elements such as water, ammonia, and methane, which freeze at relatively high temperatures compared to hydrogen and helium found in Jupiter and Saturn. This composition gives Uranus and Neptune their distinct bluish color, which is a result of the absorption of red light by methane in their atmospheres. The icy nature of Uranus and Neptune is evident in their physical features as well. Both planets have thick atmospheres made up of hydrogen, helium, and methane, with Neptune having the highest methane concentration of the two. These atmospheres give Uranus and Neptune their hazy appearance, making it difficult to observe details on their surfaces from afar. Despite their icy composition, these planets have relatively small rocky cores, surrounded by layers of ice and gas that make up the majority of their mass. In addition to their composition, Uranus and Neptune also have unique characteristics that set them apart from the other planets in our solar system. Uranus, for example, rotates on its side, with its axis nearly parallel to its orbit around the Sun. This unusual tilt is believed to have been caused by a collision with a massive object early in the planet's history. Neptune, on the other hand, has the strongest winds in the solar system, with speeds reaching up to 1,200 miles per hour. These winds create massive storms and cloud formations that are constantly changing and evolving on the planet's surface.- The designation of Uranus and Neptune as ice giants is not just based on their composition, but also on their unique characteristics and features that make them distinct from the other planets in our solar system. Despite their icy nature, these two planets hold a wealth of mysteries and secrets waiting to be uncovered by future exploration and research.
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