Scientists Think Neptune and Uranus May Not Be the Ice Giants We Imagined (gizmodo.com) 42
The planets Neptune and Uranus may be better described as "magma-ocean giants" rather than "ice giants," according to a team of researchers from the University of California. Gizmodo reports:
While the Voyager flyby confirmed the planets' classification as ice giants... [a]s the least explored planets in the solar system, the two planets have never been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, scientists aren't sure where the planets originally formed in the early solar system or the reason for their wildly chaotic magnetic fields. A long-standing hypothesis suggests that both worlds have a hydrogen/helium atmosphere that covers a vast mantle of ices, made primarily of water, ammonia, and methane, with a rocky core. The new study, however, notes that the three-layer model of an ice giant's interior structure is not the only way to explain the properties of the two planets.
The researchers also point out that objects found in the Kuiper Belt, which are thought to preserve evidence of the material in the outer Solar System where Uranus and Neptune formed, are primarily composed of rock rather than ice. For the recent study, the researchers simulated different models for the interior processes and composition of Uranus and Neptune. The model that best fits Uranus's and Neptune's different properties suggests the two planets have a well-mixed magma ocean with dissolved hydrogen at the bottom and a hydrogen-dominated envelope at the top. The model suggests that at high pressures, hydrogen gas can dissolve into magma, forming a well-mixed fluid. This mixing might help explain Uranus's and Neptune's density, which has traditionally been interpreted as evidence for an ice-rich interior.
The article notes that the theory "could also help scientists understand the interior structure of sub-Neptune planets in the Milky Way, which have thus far remained a mystery."
The researchers also point out that objects found in the Kuiper Belt, which are thought to preserve evidence of the material in the outer Solar System where Uranus and Neptune formed, are primarily composed of rock rather than ice. For the recent study, the researchers simulated different models for the interior processes and composition of Uranus and Neptune. The model that best fits Uranus's and Neptune's different properties suggests the two planets have a well-mixed magma ocean with dissolved hydrogen at the bottom and a hydrogen-dominated envelope at the top. The model suggests that at high pressures, hydrogen gas can dissolve into magma, forming a well-mixed fluid. This mixing might help explain Uranus's and Neptune's density, which has traditionally been interpreted as evidence for an ice-rich interior.
The article notes that the theory "could also help scientists understand the interior structure of sub-Neptune planets in the Milky Way, which have thus far remained a mystery."
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I would not be surprised to learn my ex was already planning on getting those diamonds.
Re:Who cares? It's raining diamonds on Venus (Score:5, Insightful)
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Pure carbon crystals are not all that impressive. Red beryl is far more interesting as there are few sources of it in the Solar System.
Uranus (Score:5, Informative)
Uranus is filled with gas - I refuse to believe otherwise.
Re:Uranus (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Uranus (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Uranus (Score:4, Informative)
No, that's the pronunciation made up to avoid saying Your-anus. Uranus has been Your-anus for hundreds of years, and only became Yur-uh-nuss relatively recently as people didn't want to be seen recorded on TV forever saying Yur-an-uss.
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I am pretty certain, that until recently the Englisch speaking population of the planet was capable of pronouncing Uranus correctly.
And I am also pretty sure that modern time English speaking astronomers still pronounce it correctly.
And in non English languages, your "joke pronunciation" simply does not happen: as it makes no sense at all.
Hint: Uranus does not contain the sounds for You, or Your or anus.
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Should go back to the Greek:
Ouranos [Oor-rah-noes]
Fuck Astronomers! (Score:1)
Astronomers try to rename Uranus.
They spread this 'Pluto is not a planet' propaganda.
They can't even agree on the makeup of Uranus, but expect us to believe that they have determined the makeup of planets thousands of light years away.
Fuck astronomers! They're making this shit up. And don't even get me started on that Galileo dude. Gravity? Ain't nobody believing that shit. As if.
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If you don't believe in gravity, then step off a tall building and prove the rest of us wrong.
[Just kidding, don't do that.]
Re:Fuck Astronomers! (Score:5, Funny)
Still don't believe in gravity. But this space-time curvature is a bitch!
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Space-time curvature is gravity. But I got you. ;-P
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If cartoons have taught me anything, it's that gravity doesn't have any effect unless I look down.
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If cartoons have taught me anything, it's that gravity doesn't have any effect unless I look down.
That's not enough to make you fall... you also need to wave at the audience, breaking the fourth wall.
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The only way to know for sure is to explore Uranus thoroughly.
Mods heads seems to be equally filled of Uranus gas give the current standings
Re: Uranus (Score:2, Informative)
Rock vs Ice (Score:2)
Aren't "rock" and "ice" fundamentally the same thing, the solid state of a material or element? Both will melt, or sublimate at a certain temperature into their liquid or gaseous state.
Re: Rock vs Ice (Score:3)
Re: Rock vs Ice (Score:5, Informative)
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Let me guess?
You are one of the guys who like "whiskey on the rocks"?
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When ridiculous lifestyle websites started selling "whiskey stones", I immediately bought a (cheap) set so I could relive one of my favorite childhood films: Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Now it's just some trash that take up space in the kitchen drawer and annoys my wife. Not that I'm every going to throw them out.
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Funny :D
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The lack of phase change made them not terribly practical for keeping anything cold. Chilling the glass is more effective, since the mass of the glass is so much higher than a few little stones.
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They're not ice giants (Score:3)
"The planets Neptune and Uranus may be better described as "magma-ocean giants""
They're *fire* giants! Quick, go get Thor.
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Well, at least there's no war in Ba-Sing-Se.
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Muh cabbageses!!!
That's nothing (Score:3)
If Uranus makes you uncomfortable, just wait until you learn about hairy black holes (HBHs).
It's as if astronomers have an anal fixation or something.
I dunno about that (Score:2)
The toilet seat is still freezing in the morning even after Uranus has been...
First they came for Pluto. (Score:2)
Uranus is next. Someone should look into that.