Uranus’ rings

Definition

Uranus' rings are a system of faint, dark rings surrounding the planet Uranus. They were first discovered in 1977 and consist primarily of small particles of varying sizes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The rings of Uranus were discovered by James L. Elliot, Edward W. Dunham, and Douglas J. Mink in 1977.
2. There are 13 known rings around Uranus, with the brightest being the epsilon ring.
3. Uranus' rings are composed mainly of large particles ranging from micrometers to meters in size.
4. The rings are darker and less dense compared to Saturn's rings, making them harder to observe.
5. The Hubble Space Telescope and Voyager 2 spacecraft have provided most of the detailed information about these rings.

Review Questions

• Who discovered Uranus' rings and in what year?
• How many known rings does Uranus have?
• What are the primary components of Uranus’ rings?

Related terms

Saturn’s Rings: A prominent and extensive system of icy rings surrounding Saturn.

Voyager 2:

A NASA spacecraft that provided detailed images and data about Uranus' rings during its flyby in 1986.

Planetary Rings:

Ring systems composed of dust, rock, and ice particles that orbit around planets.