Umbriel

Umbriel is a fascinating moon in our Solar System that has captured the attention of astronomers and space enthusiasts alike. With a Umbriel radius of 584.7 km, making it 10.9× smaller than Earth's size, this celestial body presents unique characteristics that distinguish it from other objects in our cosmic neighborhood. Positioned at an average distance of 266,000 km (0.002 AU) from the Sun, Umbriel occupies a significant place in the Solar System's architecture. As a moon, Umbriel demonstrates the incredible diversity of natural satellites that orbit larger celestial bodies throughout our Solar System.

The Umbriel physical characteristics reveal a world of remarkable dimensions and properties. The Umbriel radius measures 584.7 km, making it 10.9× smaller than Earth's size. The Umbriel mass of 1.22e+21 kg represents 4895.1× smaller than Earth's mass, giving this world substantial gravitational influence.

The Umbriel orbit reveals fascinating details about its journey around the Sun and its relationship to other Solar System objects. The Umbriel orbit has a semimajor axis of 266,000 km (0.002 AU), placing it 562.4× smaller than Earth's distance from the Sun. At its closest approach (perihelion), Umbriel comes within 265,100 km of the Sun, while at its farthest point (aphelion), it reaches 267,500 km, creating a 0.9% variation in solar distance. The Umbriel orbit is nearly circular with an eccentricity of 0.004 (4.3× smaller than Earth's orbital eccentricity), resulting in relatively stable solar heating throughout its year. The Umbriel orbit takes 0.00 hours to complete (7615052.8× smaller than Earth's orbital period), defining the length of its year. The orbital inclination of 0.13° indicates how much the Umbriel orbit is tilted relative to the Solar System's ecliptic plane. This low inclination means Umbriel follows a path very close to the plane where most planets orbit, suggesting a stable formation history.

The Umbriel rotation and axial orientation provide crucial insights into its daily and seasonal cycles, as well as its orbital dynamics. The Umbriel rotation period of 0.03 hours (866.0× smaller than Earth's rotation period) determines the length of its day. This extremely fast rotation creates intense centrifugal forces and may contribute to the planet's flattened shape. The Umbriel axial tilt of 0° determines the intensity and nature of seasonal variations. With minimal axial tilt, Umbriel experiences virtually no seasonal changes, maintaining relatively constant temperatures throughout its year. The orbital orientation parameters reveal additional details about Umbriel's position in space. The mean anomaly of 0° indicates the planet's current position in its orbit relative to its perihelion. The argument of periapsis of 0° shows how the orbit's orientation changes over time due to gravitational perturbations. The longitude of ascending node of 0° defines the reference point where the orbit crosses the ecliptic plane.

The Umbriel temperature and atmospheric conditions are fundamental to understanding its habitability and environmental characteristics. The Umbriel average temperature of 0.0 K (-273.1 °C) (-459.7°F) provides the baseline for understanding its climate. These extremely cold temperatures make Umbriel inhospitable to life as we know it, with any atmosphere likely frozen solid on the surface. Compared to Earth's average temperature of 15°C (59°F), Umbriel presents a dramatically different thermal environment. Being closer to the Sun than Earth, Umbriel receives more intense solar radiation, contributing to its temperature profile.

The Umbriel escape velocity and shape characteristics reveal important details about its gravitational field and rotational dynamics. The Umbriel escape velocity of 0 m/s determines how easily objects can break free from its gravitational pull. This relatively low escape velocity means that gases and light molecules can easily escape into space, making it difficult for Umbriel to retain a substantial atmosphere. The Umbriel flattening of 0.0000% indicates how much the planet's rotation affects its shape. This minimal flattening suggests a nearly spherical shape, indicating either slow rotation or a very rigid internal structure.