Atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune

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Atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune
Both planets have similar makeup to Jupiter and
Saturn Uranus 84 hydrogen, 14 helium, 2
methane Neptune 84 hydrogen, 14 helium, 3
methane Ammonium is not significant in any of
the planets. Their blue-green color is due to
the fact that methane absorbs in the red and thus
the planets only reflect the blue-green.
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Weather on Uranus and Neptune
Uranus as few cloud structures and those can only
be seen with the aid of computer enhancements.
a) True color b-d) computer enhanced
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Neptune shows more distinct cloud features than
does Uranus. It even has giant storms that last
a while (few years) much like Jupiter. Neptune
has the great dark spot instead.
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Interior Structure
Since there is no surface to the Jovian planets
we cant set up seismic observations, how do we
know about their interiors? We use computer
modeling. Since the Jovian planets are made
mostly of the simple gasses of hydrogen and
helium, we think we understand how they behave.
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It is the combination of a metallic hydrogen
interior and high rotation rates that give the
Jovian planets (especially Jupiter) their strong
magnetic fields. This magnetic field channels
the solar wind around the planet and spacecraft
can measure its effects far from the planet.
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The one bad thing about being the largest planet
in the solar system is that you tend to attract a
lot of comets and meteors.
Visible Scare
Infrared Image
Breakup of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9