Samuel Chiltern answered
Although you haven't been specific, I'll assume that you are only referring to the planets in our solar system, and don't want to know about planets in the wider universe.
By comparison with most planets, Uranus is large. It is commonly referred to as a 'gas giant' and, although this term isn't technically accurate, it does give you some idea about of relative size.
How Large is Uranus, Compared With Other Planets in the Solar System?
Uranus has a diameter of 51,000 kilometres (km) at the equator, making it about four times the diameter of our Earth. It has 14.5 times the mass of Earth.
Neptune is the other 'ice giant' in the solar system, and is almost the same diameter as Uranus - but is has 17 times more mass.
Uranus is the third-largest planet, but still has less than half the diameter of both Jupiter and Saturn. Uranus has ten times the diameter of Mercury, which is the smallest planet in the solar system.
What is Uranus Made Of?
Uranus is largely composed of ice, which is why it is sometimes referred to as an 'ice giant', alongside Neptune. The ice is mostly made from water, ammonia and methane (among other substances) - and astronomers believe that the vast majority the mass of Uranus is accounted for by this ice.
Only a relatively small part of Uranus is thought to be made up of gases such as hydrogen and helium, and the planet is also believed to possess a small, rocky core - although no-one is really sure about this.
I hope you can see why the term 'gas giant' is misleading, and why I prefer to call Uranus an 'ice giant'!
By comparison with most planets, Uranus is large. It is commonly referred to as a 'gas giant' and, although this term isn't technically accurate, it does give you some idea about of relative size.
How Large is Uranus, Compared With Other Planets in the Solar System?
Uranus has a diameter of 51,000 kilometres (km) at the equator, making it about four times the diameter of our Earth. It has 14.5 times the mass of Earth.
Neptune is the other 'ice giant' in the solar system, and is almost the same diameter as Uranus - but is has 17 times more mass.
Uranus is the third-largest planet, but still has less than half the diameter of both Jupiter and Saturn. Uranus has ten times the diameter of Mercury, which is the smallest planet in the solar system.
What is Uranus Made Of?
Uranus is largely composed of ice, which is why it is sometimes referred to as an 'ice giant', alongside Neptune. The ice is mostly made from water, ammonia and methane (among other substances) - and astronomers believe that the vast majority the mass of Uranus is accounted for by this ice.
Only a relatively small part of Uranus is thought to be made up of gases such as hydrogen and helium, and the planet is also believed to possess a small, rocky core - although no-one is really sure about this.
I hope you can see why the term 'gas giant' is misleading, and why I prefer to call Uranus an 'ice giant'!
