Book 8, Question 64
Why Are Uranus and Neptune Called Ice Giants?
Uranus and Neptune are called ice giants because they hold lots of water, ammonia, and methane, which astronomers call ices, mixed in with gases! That's a different recipe from Jupiter and Saturn. Ice giant means chilly chemistry, not ice cubes!
More fun facts
- Deep down, the air of Uranus and Neptune is a thick soup of water, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and methane.
- What lies at the very center of these planets is still unknown.
- Methane gives both Uranus and Neptune their blue color.
- Neptune's blue is a bit more striking than Uranus's, because of some chemistry scientists have not figured out yet.
- The Webb Space Telescope can spot the chemical fingerprints of gases high in their atmospheres.
- Ice is found all over the solar system, on planets, moons, comets and even in the rings of Saturn.
Sources: NASA Science, NASA Space Place
Questions kids ask
Why are Uranus and Neptune blue?
Methane gas in their air gives them their blue color.