When it comes to the question of which is colder between Uranus and Pluto, the answer is not as straightforward as it might seem. Both Uranus and Pluto are extremely cold celestial bodies, but there are factors that differentiate their temperatures.
Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun, is known for its frigid temperatures. The average temperature on Uranus is around -224 degrees Celsius (-371 degrees Fahrenheit), making it one of the coldest planets in our Solar System. The distance from the Sun plays a significant role in determining the temperature of a planet, and Uranus’s distance, about 2.9 billion kilometers (1.8 billion miles) away, contributes to its icy conditions.
On the other hand, Pluto, which was once considered the ninth planet but is now classified as a dwarf planet, is even colder than Uranus. Located much farther away from the Sun, at an average distance of about 5.9 billion kilometers (3.7 billion miles), Pluto experiences even more extreme cold temperatures. The average temperature on Pluto is estimated to be around -229 degrees Celsius (-380 degrees Fahrenheit), making it slightly colder than Uranus.
But there is another celestial body in our Solar System that stands out as even colder than both Uranus and Pluto. This body is none other than Triton, the largest moon of the planet Neptune. Triton is unique because it is the only major moon in our Solar System that has a retrograde orbit, meaning it orbits Neptune in the opposite direction of the planet’s rotation.
Triton’s average surface temperature is a bone-chilling -235 degrees Celsius (-391 degrees Fahrenheit), making it the coldest known body in our Solar System. This extreme cold is due to Triton’s distance from the Sun, as well as the moon’s thin atmosphere, which cannot retain heat effectively.
Experiencing such frigid temperatures, these celestial bodies are inhospitable to life as we know it. Their cold environments are inhospitable even for spacecraft, as the extreme cold can affect their functioning and equipment.
While Uranus and Pluto are both incredibly cold, with temperatures reaching below -200 degrees Celsius, there is another celestial body in our Solar System that surpasses them in terms of extreme cold. Triton, the moon of Neptune, holds the title for the coldest known body, with temperatures dipping to around -235 degrees Celsius. The exploration and study of these cold worlds provide valuable insights into the extreme environments that exist beyond our home planet.