Uranus and Neptune, Ice Giants
In Uranus and Neptune, Ice Giants, narrator Ruth Wilson explores the turbulence during the teenage years of our Solar System and the connection between the craters on the Moon and the position of Neptune and Uranus. During the late heavy bombardment, icy objects hitting the moon eventually also changed the orbit of the planets, including scattering Uranus and Neptune far from where they originally formed. This video is excerpted from BBC's Horizon: Secrets of the Solar System, a series that looks at how new planets being discovered are forcing scientists to rewrite the history of our own Solar System.
Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before. Learn more.
Lesson Express
Q: When did the Solar System enter its "teenage years," and why was it a turbulent time?
A: The Solar System entered a turbulent period during its early history, after the planets had begun to form. During this time, the planets and smaller objects were still moving and interacting with one another. Gravitational forces could change their paths, causing objects to collide or move to different locations.
Q: Why are Uranus and Neptune in an unconventional place?
A: Uranus and Neptune are much farther from the Sun than Earth and the other inner planets. Scientists think the giant planets may have moved from where they originally formed. Gravitational interactions between Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and smaller objects may have caused the planets to shift into different orbits early in the solar system's history.
Q: What is the relationship between Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune?
A: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are the four giant planets in our Solar System. Jupiter and Saturn are gas giants, while Uranus and Neptune are ice giants. They are all much larger than Earth and have thick atmospheres, many moons, and ring systems. Their gravity also played an important role in shaping the early Solar System.