Moon of Uranus
Ariel
Ariel is a moon. It orbits Uranus. It is about 1,158 km across – smaller than our Moon. Ariel is the brightest moon of Uranus and has the youngest surface – with relatively few craters.
Fact file
- Type
- Moon of Uranus
- Diameter
- 1,158 km
- Distance from Uranus
- 190,900 km
- Orbital period
- 2.5 days
- Temperature
- -213 °C on average
Ariel orbits Uranus.
Interesting facts about Ariel
- Ariel is the brightest moon of Uranus and has the youngest surface – with relatively few craters.
- Long valleys and trenches run across it, some with smooth floors that were probably flooded by “ice lava”.
- Named after the spirit of the air Ariel in Alexander Pope's “The Rape of the Lock” – he also appears in Shakespeare's “The Tempest”.
Frequently asked questions about Ariel
How big is Ariel?
Ariel has a diameter of 1,158 km. That is about 33% of the diameter of our Moon.
How far is Ariel from Uranus?
Ariel orbits Uranus at an average distance of 190,900 km.
How long does Ariel take to orbit Uranus?
Ariel orbits Uranus once every 60.5 hours.
How cold or warm is it on Ariel?
On Ariel the average temperature is −213 °C.
Formation
Formed from ice and rock. In the past, tidal forces heated the interior and triggered cryovolcanism.
Atmosphere
No atmosphere.
Exploration
Discovered in 1851 by William Lassell, photographed in 1986 by Voyager 2.
Compared with Earth
About a third the size of our Moon.
Other moons of Uranus
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