Ariel, also known as Uranus I, is a natural satellite of the outer planet, Uranus. Ariel was discovered on October 21, 1851 by astronomer William Lassell. Among Uranus's five major moons, Ariel is the second closest to the planet,
Surface Features[]
The surface of Ariel is rocky throughout, with cracks located in some areas of this Uranian moon. It also contains impact craters. Except for water, the only other compound identified on the surface of Ariel by infrared spectroscopy is carbon dioxide. Ariel appears to be fairly evenly cratered compared to other moons of Uranus; the relative paucity of large craters suggests that its surface does not date to the Solar System's formation, which means that Ariel must have been completely resurfaced at some point of its history.
Gallery[]
| Moons of Uranus | |
|---|---|
| Inner | Cordelia • Ophelia • Puck • Mab |
| Portia Group | Bianca • Cressida • Desdemona • Juliet • Portia • Rosalind • Cupid • Belinda • Perdita |
| Major (spheroid) | Miranda • Ariel • Umbriel • Titania • Oberon |
| Caliban Group | Caliban • Stephano • S/2023 U 1 |
| Outer (irregular) | Francisco • Trinculo • Sycorax • Margaret • Prospero • Setebos • Ferdinand |