All About the Planets: Neptune & Uranus

Neptune

The name of the planet Neptune came from astronomy mythology that saw Neptune as the original god of water, but he later claimed the ocean under his belt and was then linked to the Greek god Poseidon. When it comes to describing some of the characteristics associated with Neptune, you will find that the planet is home to a large storm just like the one Jupiter possesses. Often, the storm is referred to as the “Great Dark Spot.” The longevity of this storm is unknown as it is too far away to make an accurate assessment. It was only until the modern days that robots were sent to the planet in an effort to explore its features.

Actually, for many centuries , the planet remained undiscovered, as people didn’t even knew that Neptune was a reality. In 1846, it was thanks to the efforts of Johann Galle and Heinrich D’Arrest that the planet became noticed. Today, Neptune is noted for having six rings that circle the planet.

The moons of Neptune total eight, as far as astronomers know. Since the planet is a great distance away, it is very complicated to truly make definite statement about Neptune. There is a very high chance that there are many more moons associated with the planet that are yet to become a part of our science books. Some of the names given to the moons of Neptune include Prospero, Setebos, Caliban, Sycorax, 1986U10, and Stephano. An interesting deduction regarding the planet is that scientists believe a rather spacious ocean is hidden under the clouds of Neptune.

Uranus

When it comes to Uranus, the planet was named after the lord of the skies, who just happened to be the husband of Earth. In astronomy mythology, Uranus was also viewed as the kind of the gods until his son Saturn overthrew him. There is something quite odd about Uranus, as it is rather different from other planets in the Solar System. This is because Uranus actually spins on its side. Some people hold the theory that a rather massive item crashed into the planet many, many, many years ago. The impact was so great that it is thought that the direction of Uranus’ spin was actually altered.

Just like Neptune, scientists feel that water in the form of an ocean is located beneath the clouds of Uranus. The large rocky core of the planet is also of significant interest to many, especially jewelry makers, as the high levels of pressure are thought to potentially serve as home to “trillions of large diamonds.” In essence, Uranus is nearly identical to the planet Neptune.

When studying the moons of Uranus, you will find that there are 27. Five of the moons are rather sizeable, while the rest are smaller in size. The names of Uranus’ moons are probably quite familiar, as they have mostly come from characters showcased in the plays of William Shakespeare. They include Cordelia, Puck, Miranda, Portia, Rosalind, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, Oberon, Caliban, Ophelia, Bianca, Cressida, Desdemona, Juliet, and Belinda.