Uranus, 1998 (IMAGE)

Southwest Research Institute

Uranus, 1998

Caption

While Uranus (pictured, image taken from the 1998 Voyager 2 mission) and Neptune have long been classified as ice giants, the composition of their interiors is a mystery.  New research led by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) measured the planets' atmospheric argon-40 to estimate the amount of rock found inside them, searching for clues about the planets' origins, including where and how they formed in our solar system.

Credit

NASA

Usage Restrictions

No restrictions.

License

Public Domain

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