A new study published on the preprint server arXiv in March has suggested that Uranus and Neptune may contain methane ice in addition to frozen water. The research, which could provide insights into how these icy planets formed, has revealed that scientists have limited knowledge about the compositions of Uranus and Neptune due to limited exploration.
Based on models built using data from the Voyager 2 spacecraft and telescope observations, researchers believe that Uranus and Neptune have thin hydrogen and helium envelopes, water and ammonia layers, and rocky cores. The planets likely formed by accreting planetesimals rich in carbon, which poses a puzzle about their composition.
The study indicates that methane may represent up to 10% of the planets’ mass and could have formed when hydrogen in the planets reacted with carbon in planetesimals during their formation. By incorporating methane as a key component in models of Uranus and Neptune’s interiors, researchers hope to gain a better understanding of these mysterious icy giants.
While the study results have not yet been peer-reviewed, the implications of methane ice on the composition and formation of Uranus and Neptune are significant. With further research and exploration, scientists may be able to unravel more mysteries about these distant planets.
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