The Universe February 2014 | Page 7

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Saturn

Saturn has an orbit distance of 9.5 AU from the sun. One day on Saturn is approximately 10.7 hours and one year is equal to 29 Earth years. Saturn is easily distinguishable from the other planets because of its 7 unique rings. Saturn is considered to be a gas giant as well, and mainly consists of hydrogen and helium. Saturn has 53 natural satellites and is most famous for its moon Titan. Titan is the second biggest moon in the solar system and has an atmosphere that is 95% nitrogen with traces of methane gas. According to Roman mythology, Saturn is the god of agriculture

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Uranus

Uranus is 19.19 AU from the sun. A day on Uranus is 17 hours and a year is equal to 89 Earth years. Uranus also spins in retrograde rotation, but turns horzontally. Uranus is also a gas giant made up of water, methane and ammonia. Uranus has an atmoshphere consisting of hydrogen, helium and some methane. Uranus has 27 known moons, the largest of them being Titania. Titania has a 1600 km diameter, thats like driving from Edmonton to Calgary 8 times!

Uranus is derived form the Greek word Ouranus, meaning sky or heaven.

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Neptune

Neptune orbits the sun at a distance of 30.07 AU. A day on Neptune is 16 hours and a year is 165 Earth years. Neptune's year is the longest because its' orbit is the longest. Similar to the rest of the outer planets, Neptune is a gas giant, made of hot water, ammonia and methane gas. Neptune, like Saturn, has rings. Six of them, to be precise. Neptune has 13 confirmed moons, with one still pending confirmation. Neptune largest moon is Triton, a moon that orbits in the opposite direction of Neptune. Neptune is the Greek god of the sea.

Outer Planets

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