An Overview of Uranus' Magnetosphere



This is a drawing of the magnetosphere of Uranus.
Click on image for full size version (92K GIF)

The magnetosphere of Uranus is medium sized, but still much larger than the Earth's. It extends well beyond the orbits of Uranus' moons. It is probably generated in the icy interior layers, rather than with a metallic component at the core.

The magnetosphere of Uranus has a very strange orientation, tilted by almost 60 degrees from the vertical. The extreme tilt, combined with the extreme tilt of the rotation axis of Uranus, provides for a completely unique magnetosphere, one which has a twisting structure!

Mathematical theory suggests that the rings of Uranus affect the both the motion of particles in the magnetosphere, as well as creating a strange, tiny plasmasphere instead of one large version.

The Auroraon Uranus is difficult to detect, and so are radio emissions from Uranus, which means that the magnetosphere of Uranus may be almost empty, swept clean by the rings of Uranus!


The Magnetic Poles of Uranus

Detecting Magnetic Fields with Spacecraft

"What is a Magnetosphere?"

Parts of a Magnetosphere



A Look at Uranus' Magnetosphere



This is a drawing of the magnetosphere of Uranus.
Click on image for full size version (92K GIF)

The magnetosphere of Uranus is medium sized, but still much bigger than the Earth's. It holds all of Uranus' moons. It is probably made in the middle of the planet, and with ice, rather than with iron at the core.

The magnetosphere of Uranus has a very strange tilt. The extreme tilt, combined with the extreme tilt of Uranus itself, makes for a completely strange magnetosphere, one which has twisting structure!

Mathematical theory suggests that the rings of Uranus sweep the particles in the magnetosphere into the atmosphere!

The Auroraon Uranus is difficult to detect, and so are radio signals from Uranus, which means that the magnetosphere of Uranus may be almost empty!


The Magnetic Poles of Uranus

How We Detect Magnetic Fields with Spacecraft

"What is a Magnetosphere?"

Parts of the Magnetosphere



A Look at Uranus' Magnetosphere



This is a drawing of the magnetosphere of Uranus.
Click on image for full size version (92K GIF)

The magnetosphere of Uranus is medium sized, but still much bigger than the Earth's. It holds all of Uranus' moons. It is probably made in the middle of the planet, and with ice, rather than with iron at the center.

The magnetosphere of Uranus has a very strange tilt. The extreme tilt, combined with the extreme tilt of Uranus itself, makes for a completely strange magnetosphere, one which has twisting parts!

Mathematical theory suggests that the rings of Uranus sweep the particles in the magnetosphere into the atmosphere!

The auroraof Uranus is hard to find, and so are radio signals from Uranus, which means that the magnetosphere of Uranus may be almost empty!


The Magnetic Poles of Uranus

How We Measure Magnetism

"What is a Magnetosphere?"

Parts of the Magnetosphere




Last modified May 7, 2009 by Randy Russell.
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