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NEPTUNE
The eighth and most distant major planet
from the Sun, a deep-blue ice giant with
powerful winds and a dynamic atmosphere.
4.50 billion km
AVERAGE DISTANCE FROM SUN
49,244 km
DIAMETER
165 YEARS
ORBITAL PERIOD
16.1 HOURS
ROTATION PERIOD
16
KNOWN MOONS
5
MAIN RINGS
THE ICE GIANT
Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun
and the most distant major planet in our
Solar System.
Its striking blue color is caused mainly by
methane in its atmosphere, which absorbs
red wavelengths of sunlight.
Neptune has one of the most active
atmospheres in the Solar System, with
winds that can reach more than 2,000 km/h.
The planet has a faint ring system and
16 known moons. Triton is by far the
largest and most famous of them.
MAJOR MOONS
TRITON
Neptune's largest moon, with an
active icy surface and nitrogen geysers.
NEREID
A distant irregular moon with one
of the most eccentric known orbits.
PROTEUS
A dark, irregular moon heavily
covered with impact craters.
LARISSA
A small inner moon discovered
in Voyager 2 images.
GALATEA
A small irregular moon that helps
shape Neptune's faint ring system.
EXTREME WINDS
Neptune has some of the fastest
planetary winds measured in the
Solar System.
DEEP BLUE
Methane absorbs red light,
helping give Neptune its deep
blue appearance.
GREAT DARK SPOTS
Large dark storms have been
observed moving through
Neptune's atmosphere.
DID YOU KNOW?
One year on Neptune lasts about
165 Earth years.
Since its discovery in 1846, Neptune
has completed only one full orbit
around the Sun.
WEATHER AT THE EDGE OF THE PLANETARY SYSTEM
Neptune receives far less sunlight than the inner planets, yet its atmosphere contains some of the fastest winds measured in the Solar System. Clouds and large storm systems move through an atmosphere composed mainly of hydrogen and helium with methane that contributes to its blue appearance.
Its largest moon, Triton, follows a retrograde orbit and is likely a captured object from the outer Solar System. The Neptune system therefore connects the study of giant planets with the icy populations beyond them.
IMAGES:
NASA / JPL / VOYAGER 2
PLANET AND MOON IMAGES VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
PLANET AND MOON IMAGES VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS