A study submitted to The Astrophysical Journal challenges the longstanding classification of Uranus and Neptune as "ice giants."
Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles used computer models to simulate the interiors of both planets. The models indicate that instead of a mantle composed of water, ammonia, and methane ices, the planets may contain a magma ocean of silicate, iron, and hydrogen beneath their atmospheres.
The proposed structure includes:
- A hydrogen/helium atmosphere
- A boundary layer of various elements
- A bottom magma ocean
The study notes potential similarities with sub-Neptune exoplanets, which are common in the galaxy.
No spacecraft missions to Uranus or Neptune are currently planned, though concepts like the Uranus Orbiter and Probe (UOP) and Neptune Odyssey have been proposed.