• Question: is uranus gassy?

    Asked by antonio to Amy, Karen, Sarah, Vijay, Will on 20 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Sarah Martin

      Sarah Martin answered on 20 Jun 2012:

      Hahaha! Brilliant!

      Well it is and it isn’t! Uranus’s atmosphere, while similar to the “gas giants'” Jupiter and Saturn which are made hydrogen and helium, contains more “ices” such as water, ammonia and methane, along with traces of hydrocarbons – so it’s icy!

      🙂 Sarah

    • Photo: Will Reynolds

      Will Reynolds answered on 20 Jun 2012:

      Actually yes. It is called a ‘Gas Giant’ because it made up enitely of gas, but it is so far away from the sun that the gasses freeze so it turns to ice and makes it look blue.

    • Photo: Karen Reed

      Karen Reed answered on 20 Jun 2012:

      Brilliant question. I know nothing of the other planets so I’m learning something new.

Comments

  • Photo: Karen

    Karen commented on :

    Question for you other scientists – off the back of will’s answer – wouldn’t a frozen gas be considered a solid? Or do the terms gas, liquid and solid apply to the natural state of something at standard conditions here on earth?