A type of large planet composed primarily of water, methane, and ammonia ices, with smaller amounts of hydrogen and helium than gas giants. Uranus and Neptune are the ice giants in our solar system.
Coined in the late 20th century to distinguish Uranus and Neptune from the hydrogen-helium dominated gas giants. The term reflects their composition of 'ices' (frozen volatile compounds) rather than their temperature, as these materials are actually hot and under extreme pressure.
Ice giants are actually hot inside - the 'ice' in their name refers to materials like water and methane that would be solid under normal conditions, but exist as superionic ice or plasma at the extreme pressures and temperatures within these planets! Uranus is also the only planet that rotates on its side, possibly due to an ancient collision.
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