A new analysis of decades' worth of observations has revealed that Uranus does indeed emit more heat than it receives from the rays of the Sun.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/48332762

A new analysis of decades’ worth of observations has revealed that Uranus does indeed emit more heat than it receives from the rays of the Sun.

  • gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    5·
    4 days ago

    i assume nuclear decay processes in its interior

    i.e. uranium decays into lead and that process releases some heat continuously for a very long time

    it also happens on earth, though i don’t have any exact number for it. AFAIK, it’s what keeps the earth’s interior warm. otherwise it would have cooled down a lot more since the earth formed a few billion years ago.

    • jaybone@lemmy.zipEnglish
      2·
      4 days ago

      That all makes sense.

      But if the inner planets do this too, then why is it such a mystery? Sounds like every planet does this then.