What Causes the Distinct Bluish Tint of the Ice Giants

question 16

Multiple Choice

What causes the distinct bluish tint of the ice giants Uranus and Neptune?

• A) Methane in their atmospheres preferentially absorbs the red component of the Sun's light and reemits the blue part, imparting the bluish tint.
• B) Water ice in their atmospheres preferentially absorbs infrared light from the Sun and reemits the blue part, imparting the bluish tint.
• C) There is less red light from the Sun reaching ice giants at their large distances, resulting in their bluish appearance.
• D) The clouds consist of hydrocarbons producing their own light, which comes out in the blue region of the spectrum.
• E) Metallic hydrogen within the planet reflects blue light but not red light.