Lecture 38: Uranus and Neptune

Uranus and Neptune are the smallest and outermost of the 4 Jovian planets. While superficially similar to Jupiter and Saturn, there are substantial differences. Uranus and Neptune have smaller rocky cores surrounded by deep, slushy ice mantles and relatively thinner hydrogen atmospheres, quite different from the massive cores and deep metallic hydrogen mantles of Jupiter and Saturn. We will also ask why they appear blue, look at their internal energy and weather, and then review the properties of the Jovian planets as a group. Recorded 2006 Nov 16 in 100 Stillman Hall on the Columbus campus of The Ohio State University.