The Planet Neptune

Reading and Assessment

 

Neptune as seen from Voyager 2

Neptune as seen from Voyager 2

en:Image:Neptune_symbol.ant.png Neptune Facts:
  • Wind speeds on Neptune can reach 450 meters per second.
  • Neptune was discovered because its gravitational field was affecting the orbit of Uranus.
  • Neptune is sometimes the ninth planet from the Sun.

 

 

 

 

How big is this planet ?

Comparison of the size of Neptune and the Earth
Comparison of the size of Neptune and the Earth

Neptune is very similar to Uranus in size. Its diameter is only slightly smaller, at 49,528 km across. [1] It is almost as big as four Earths in a row.[2]

What is its surface like?

The atmosphere of Neptune has some dark blue spots. When the Voyager probe went by Neptune in 1989, it saw a large one called the Great Dark Spot. In 1994, it vanished, but later reappeared.[3] There is also a large white cloud nicknamed "Scooter." It goes around Neptune every 16 hours.[4] The winds of Neptune are very fast, blowing at up to 2000 km per hour.[5] That is about four times faster than the fastest recorded tornado on Earth.[6]

What are its rings like?

Neptune has some faint rings that are dark and hard to see. There are clumps in some parts of the rings where the material is denser.[7]

What are its moons like?

Neptune has 13 known moons. There could be more.[8]

Inner moons

There are five small potato-shaped moons orbiting close to Neptune.

Proteus

Proteus is a dark moon about 418 km across. It has an irregular shape. In Roman mythology Proteus was a sea-

Triton

Triton is the largest moon of Neptune. Scientists think that it is a lot like Pluto. It is 2700 km across. It is made of rock and ice. It has a surface temperature of −235 °C Triton has a very thin atmosphere made up of nitrogen and a little methane.

There are volcanoes that have eruptions of liquid nitrogen, dust, or methane compounds. The eruptions happen because of the seasons. There are few craters because the eruptions cover them up. There are ice caps that change sizes with the seasons. There are also ridges and valleys. They may have formed because of repeated freezing and thawing.

An interesting thing about Triton's orbit is that it goes around Neptune in the opposite direction that Neptune's rotates. Because of this, scientists think that Triton was captured by Neptune long ago. In Roman mythology, Triton was the son of Neptune.[10]

Nereid

Nereid is an irregularly shaped moon about 340 km across. Its orbit is very eccentric or noncircular. It may have been captured by Neptune or moved into the eccentric orbit by Triton's gravity when Triton got captured. In Roman mythology Nereids were sea nymphs.[11]

Outer moons

There are five other known moons. They are small potato-shaped moons far from Neptune. There might be more we haven't seen yet.

How long is a day on this planet?

A day on Neptune lasts 16 hour and 7 minutes.[12]

How long is a year on this planet?

One year on Neptune is about 165 Earth years, or 60,265 days.[13]

What is it made of?

Neptune is made of rock and metal in the core. The core is probably bigger than Uranus's because Neptune weighs more, but is the same size. Around the core is rock, water, ammonia and methane. The atmosphere is made of hydrogen and helium. Lower down in the atmosphere, there is methane and ammonia too. The methane makes Neptune look blue-green.[14]

Artistic impression of Neptune
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Artistic impression of Neptune

How much would Neptune's gravity pull on me?

If you were floating close to the cloud tops of Neptune, it would pull you down with a force only a little stronger than the force of Earth's gravity.[15] The effects of Neptune's larger radius and its mass almost cancel out, making the force only a little bigger. If you weighed 100 pounds on Earth you would weigh 109.6 pounds on Neptune.

Who is it named after?

Neptune is named after the Roman god of the seas, also known as Poseidon in ancient Greece. [16]


References

 

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE MATERIAL


days


3) A 100 pound object would pull with how many pounds of force on the planet Neptune?

pounds

3) How long does it take Neptune to travel once around the Sun


years

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The largest moon of Neptune is:
a) Triton
b) Proteus
c) Charon
d) Neptune has no moons that we know of

2. Which statement is not correct about the planet Neptune?
a) the pull of gravity on Neptune is similar to that on earth
b) the surface of Neptune is a lot like Pluto with a surface temperature of -235 degrees C.
c) Neptune is about the same size as Uranus
d) Neptune has two moons, the larger which is called Triton

3. What statement best describes the surface of Neptune?
a) methane gas is present in the atmosphere which makes Neptune look blue-green
b) Neptune is made of rock and metal in the core.
c) The winds of Neptune are very fast, blowing at up to 2000 km per hour
d) all of the above are correct

4. Which statement is not true about Triton
a) Triton is Neptunes largest moon
b) Triton has no atmosphere
c) There are volcanoes that have eruptions of liquid nitrogen on Triton
d) Triton was named after the son of Neptune in Roman mythology

5. Who was the planet Neptune named after?
a) Neptune is the Roman god of the underworld
b) Neptune is named after the Roman god of the seas, also known as Poseidon in ancient Greece
c) Neptune is named after the Greek God of War
d) God of fame, rumor




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