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hor_green_bar1.jpg Clouds and the Surface hor_green_bar1.jpg


Uranus - courtesy NASAUranus was once thought to be a much tamer planet than Jupiter or Neptune, due to the fact that surface activity seemed minimal. However, recent changes in the planet's orbit has had a very strong effect on Uranus. Now, the planet has a very dynamic weather system that is constantly changing. The winds on the surface blow with extremely fast speeds, only visible with enhanced imaging by close-up encounters such as the Voyager and powerful telescopes such as the Hubble. Recent observations made by the Hubble Space Telescope show evidence of even more rapid surface activity. The change could be due to the Sun shining at a lower latitude on Uranus, causing more pronounced effects.

Another point of interest is what is hidden on the inside of the planet, past the outermost layer. Much like on Jupiter, Uranus could have distinctly banded clouds that blow at very high speeds.



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