What gives Uranus its blue-green color?

Uranus exhibits its distinctive blue-green color primarily due to the presence of methane in its upper atmosphere. Methane absorbs sunlight at red wavelengths and reflects blue and green light, which gives the planet its characteristic hue. This phenomenon occurs because methane molecules in the atmosphere interact with sunlight, resulting in the selective filtering of colors. The fact that Uranus has a relatively cold and stable atmosphere allows this effect to be more pronounced, as the methane remains in a gaseous state and effectively interacts with the incoming solar radiation.

While other atmospheric components like ozone and ammonia can influence color, they do not play a significant role in giving Uranus its primary blue-green appearance.