Uranus rings

Uranus rings
Photo: JPL NASA

  

Uranus' Rings
 

Uranus has a faint system of 13 narrow, elliptical-shaped rings, composed of dark dust and rocks up to about 10 meters in diameter. The ring system was discovered in 1977, during an occultation of a star by the planet. As the star first approached and then receded behind the planet it appear to blink off and on – a blinking found to be due to a system of rings

 
 
Rings data
Name Distance* Width Thickness Albedo
1986U2R 38,000 km 2,500 km 0.1 km 0.03
6 41,840 km 1-3 km 0.1 km 0.03
5 42,230 km 2-3 km 0.1 km 0.03
4 42,580 km 2-3 km 0.1 km 0.03
Alpha 44,720 km 7-12 km 0.1 km 0.03
Beta 45,670 km 7-12 km 0.1 km 0.03
Eta 47,190 km 0-2 km 0.1 km 0.03
Gamma 47,630 km 1-4 km 0.1 km 0.03
Delta 48,290 km 3-9 km 0.1 km 0.03
Lambda 50,020 km 1-2 km 0.1 km 0.03
Epsilon 51,140 km 20-100 km < 0.15 km 0.03
R/2003 U1 66,000 km ? ? ?
R/2003 U2 97,734 km ? ? ?

*The distance is measured from the planet center to the start of the ring.
Information from: David Darling's encyclopedia and SSE-JPL-NASA


 

Voyager Image of Uranus

Uranus and its rings
Hubble Captures Detailed Image of Uranus' Atmosphere. Photo in false colors.
Photo: Erich Karkoschka (University of Arizona Lunar & Planetary Lab) and NASA
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