College Astronomy: Chapter Thirteen- Uranus and Neptune
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When was Uranus discovered?
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1781
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Who discovered Uranus?
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Herschel
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Which planet was the first planet to be discovered by a telescope?
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Uranus
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What did Herschel originally name his discovery?
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Georgium Sidus (Georges Star; in honor of King George III)
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When was the name 'Uranus' finally official?
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1851
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When was Neptune discovered?
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1846
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How was Neptune discovered?
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its presence was discovered after the analysis of Uranus' orbit
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What was special about the discovery of Neptune?
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It was the first planet predicted to exist before it was visually observed
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Why are Uranus's seasons the most extreme in the solar system?
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axis of rotation lies almost in the plane of its orbit (98 degrees)
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Which two planets do Uranus and Neptune have similar outer atmospheres to?
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Saturn and Jupiter
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We can infer that both Neptune and Uranus are really cold due to what?
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the fact that ammonia freezes there
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Which gas dominates and gives the two planets the characteristic blue color?
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methane
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Where is the only place the that clouds can form on Uranus?
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lower, warmer layers
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Which planet has a more visible band structure?
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Neptune
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Which planet had a \"dark spot\" similar to Jupiter's storms?
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Neptune
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Describe the magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune.
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both are substantial, but at large angle to their rotation axes
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Unlike other planets', what can Neptune and Uranus's magnetic fields not be produced by?
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dynamos
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How many moons does Uranus have? How many are major?
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- 27 moons in total - 5 major moons: Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon
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Which of Uranus's moons is the darkest?
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Umbriel
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Uranus' moons are similar to that of Saturn's medium-sized moons except for what small detail?
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they are all much less reflective
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Which of Uranus's moons is the most unusual?
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Miranda
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How many moons does Neptune have?
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13
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Of Neptune's moons, what are the only two that can be seen from Earth?
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Triton and Nereid
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What's peculiar about Tritan's orbit?
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it's in a retrograde orbit
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Is Nereid's orbit highly eccentric?
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Yes
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Triton has a few craters and ice volcanoes, having an active surface. What is the probable cause of this?
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nitrogen geysers
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When were Uranus's and Neptune's faint ring systems detected?
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1977
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Are Uranus's rings narrow or wide?
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narrow
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What keeps the epsilon ring from diffusing?
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two shepherd moons
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How many rings does Neptune have?
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five (three narrow and two wide)
