NEPTUNE

FACTS Named after Roman god of the sea Named after Roman god of the sea Only planet that cannot be seen without a telescope Only planet that cannot be seen without a telescope Discovered mathematically in 1843 (John Adams) Discovered mathematically in 1843 (John Adams)

FACTS Diameter = 30,775 miles Diameter = 30,775 miles Distance = 2,793,100,000 miles Distance = 2,793,100,000 miles Revolution = 165 years Revolution = 165 years Rotation = 16 hrs and 7 minutes Rotation = 16 hrs and 7 minutes 17 x more massive than earth 17 x more massive than earth Tilted at 28 o Tilted at 28 o

SURFACE and ATMOSPHERE H, He, H 2 O, and silicates H, He, H 2 O, and silicates Core of rock and ice Core of rock and ice Core surrounded by liquid layer then phase to gases to atmosphere Core surrounded by liquid layer then phase to gases to atmosphere Shrouded by thick layer of clouds Shrouded by thick layer of clouds Winds move at 700 mph Winds move at 700 mph

SURFACE and ATMOSPHERE Clouds are mainly frozen methane Clouds are mainly frozen methane Below clouds lies hydrogen sulfide Below clouds lies hydrogen sulfide Voyager 2 found a large area resembling a hurricane termed The Great Dark Spot (1989) Voyager 2 found a large area resembling a hurricane termed The Great Dark Spot (1989) 1994 Hubble telescope could not find it 1994 Hubble telescope could not find it

Satellites and Rings 11 known satellites 11 known satellites Triton = largest (1681 miles) orbits in opposite direction of planet (only one) Triton = largest (1681 miles) orbits in opposite direction of planet (only one) May have been a captured comet May have been a captured comet

Other moons Despina Despina Galatea Galatea Larissa Larissa Naiad Naiad Proteus Proteus Thalassa Thalassa

RINGS Very faint Very faint Have distinct arc sections that are brighter and denser Have distinct arc sections that are brighter and denser

Early Pictures of Neptune