NEPTUNENEPTUNE

FACTSFACTS Named after Named after Roman god of Roman god of the seathe sea

Only planet Only planet that cannot that cannot be seen be seen without a without a telescopetelescope

Discovered Discovered mathematicalmathematically in 1843 ly in 1843 (John Adams) (John Adams)

FACTSFACTS

Diameter = 30,775 milesDiameter = 30,775 miles Distance = 2,793,100,000 milesDistance = 2,793,100,000 miles Revolution = 165 yearsRevolution = 165 years Rotation = 16 hrs and 7 minutesRotation = 16 hrs and 7 minutes 17 x more massive than earth17 x more massive than earth Tilted at 28 Tilted at 28 oo

SURFACE and SURFACE and ATMOSPHEREATMOSPHERE

H, He, HH, He, H22O, and silicatesO, and silicates Core of rock and iceCore of rock and ice Core surrounded by liquid layer Core surrounded by liquid layer

then phase to gases to atmospherethen phase to gases to atmosphere Shrouded by thick layer of clouds Shrouded by thick layer of clouds Winds move at 700 mphWinds move at 700 mph

SURFACE and SURFACE and ATMOSPHEREATMOSPHERE

Clouds are mainly frozen methaneClouds are mainly frozen methane Below clouds lies hydrogen sulfideBelow clouds lies hydrogen sulfide Voyager 2 found a large area Voyager 2 found a large area

resembling a hurricane termed The resembling a hurricane termed The Great Dark Spot (1989)Great Dark Spot (1989)

1994 Hubble telescope could not 1994 Hubble telescope could not find itfind it

Satellites and RingsSatellites and Rings

11 known 11 known satellitessatellites

Triton = largest Triton = largest (1681 miles) (1681 miles) orbits in opposite orbits in opposite direction of direction of planet (only one)planet (only one)

May have been a May have been a captured cometcaptured comet

Other moonsOther moons

DespinaDespina GalateaGalatea LarissaLarissa NaiadNaiad ProteusProteus ThalassaThalassa

RINGSRINGS

Very faintVery faint Have Have

distinct arc distinct arc sections sections that are that are brighter brighter and denser and denser

Early Pictures of Neptune Early Pictures of Neptune