Uranus: World of an Ice Giant Trivia Quiz

Answer: Dense

Uranus is second only to Saturn as the least dense planet in our Solar System. The density of Uranus is 1.27 grams per cubic centimetre. The low density suggests it is mainly made of ice, rather than gas.

Answer: 13

The rings of Uranus were discovered after Saturn's rings. This discovery helped scientists understand that rings were common of planets in general, and not unique to Saturn.

A study in 2016 suggested that the rings of Uranus, Neptune and Saturn may actually be the remains of dwarf planets that once wandered too close to giants.

Answer: Titania

Titania is the largest moon of Uranus. Oberon is the second-largest, and is the outermost of Uranus' main moons. Titania is also the eighth-largest moon of the Solar System. Titania's diameter is 981 miles.

The name "Titania" comes from Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in which Titania is queen of the fairies. Oberon is her husband in the play.

Answer: Cordelia

Cordelia was discovered in 1986 via images taken by the space probe, Voyager 2. It was not recorded again until 1997, when it was detected by the Hubble telescope.

Answer: Star

William Herschel, a British astronomer, discovered Uranus with his telescope on March 13, 1781. This was the first planet to be discovered since ancient times.

Answer: Methane

The Sun's red light is absorbed by the methane in Uranus' upper atmosphere. The methane also reflects the Sun's blue light into space and propels blue light at our eyes, which is why Uranus has a blue-green hue.

Answer: True

Uranus tilts so far on its axis that it spins on its side. Due to this peculiarity, the poles of Uranus are sometimes pointed nearly directly at the Sun. The off-kilter pole positions means that it is likely one pole of Uranus, would have higher temperatures than the equator of Uranus.

As well as being the only known planet to rotate on its side, Uranus also rotates in the opposite direction to most other planets, from east to west.

The planet Venus also rotates to the west.

Answer: Miranda

Miranda was discovered by Gerard P. Kuiper in the McDonald Observatory, Texas, 1948. Miranda is around 310 miles across, and sports fault canyons around 12 times deeper than the Grand Canyon. Unlike the other main four moons of Uranus, Miranda has an orbit which is slightly inclined.

Miranda was named after a character in William Shakespeare's play, "The Tempest."

Answer: Argon

Just like most gas giants, the surface of Uranus sees the pressure of the gases as equal to the pressure at sea level on Earth.

Uranus is estimated to be around 80% hydrogen, 15% helium and 2% methane.

Answer: 84

During certain times of Uranus' orbit, one pole or the other will be facing directly at the Sun, getting 42 years of direct sunlight. Other than at this time, the planet is dark.