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Miranda


Miranda is the eleventh of Uranus' satellites, and the innermost of Uranus' large moons. It has a diameter of 472 kilometers and is made of half water ice and half rocky material. Its surface is unlike anything in the solar system with features that are jumbled together in a haphazard fashion. Miranda consists of huge fault canyons as deep as 20 kilometers, terraced layers and a mixture of old and young surfaces. The younger regions might have been produced by incomplete differentiation of the moon, a process in which upwelling of lighter material surfaced in limited areas. Alternatively, scientists believe that Miranda may have been shattered as many as five times during its evolution. After each shattering the moon would have reassembled from the remains of its former self with portions of the core exposed and portions of the surface buried. Miranda's appearence can be explained by theories, but the real reason is still unknown.

Given Miranda's small size and low temperature (-187 degrees C), the degree and diversity of the tectonic activity on this moon has surprised scientists. It is believed that an additional heat source such as tidal heating caused by the gravitational tug of Uranus must have been involved. In addition, some means must have mobilized the flow of icy material at low temperatures.


Orbital Distance:   129,500 km - 130,200 km (average 129,850 km)
Eccentricity:       0.003
Local Year:         1.413 days (1d 9h 55m 25s)
Orbital Velocity:   6.683 km/s
Inclination:        4.22°
Local Day:          1.413 days (1d 9h 55m 25s)
Axial Tilt:         n/a

Diameter:           472 km
Composition:        H2O ice and rock
Density:            1.20 g/cm3
Mass:               6.590 x 1016 tonnes (11/million earths)
Gravity:            0.008 G
Escape Velocity:    0.193 km/s
Area:               700,000 km2
Surface Material:   H2O ice and rock
Atmosphere:         None
Pressure:           None
Albedo:             0.27
Temperature:        -187°C

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