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TRITON

The largest moon of Neptune and one of the most unusual moons in the Solar System, with an icy surface, nitrogen frost and evidence of active geological processes.
Triton - Voyager 2
TRITON
2,706.8 km
DIAMETER
5.88 DAYS
ORBITAL PERIOD
354,759 km
FROM NEPTUNE
1846
DISCOVERED
RETROGRADE
ORBIT DIRECTION
#1
LARGEST NEPTUNE MOON
THE CAPTURED WORLD
Triton is the largest moon of Neptune and the seventh-largest moon in the Solar System. Unlike most large moons, Triton moves around its planet in a retrograde orbit, meaning it travels in the opposite direction to Neptune's rotation. This unusual orbit strongly suggests that Triton was originally a Kuiper Belt object that was captured by Neptune's gravity. Voyager 2 flew past Triton in 1989 and revealed a surprisingly young and active surface covered with nitrogen and water-ice deposits.
TRITON FEATURES
NITROGEN GEYSERS
Voyager 2 observed dark plumes rising from active nitrogen geysers on Triton's surface.
RETROGRADE ORBIT
Triton orbits Neptune backwards compared with the rotation of the planet.
ICY SURFACE
The surface contains nitrogen, methane and water ice, creating a remarkably bright frozen world.
DID YOU KNOW?
Triton is probably a captured Kuiper Belt object. It is the only large moon in the Solar System with a retrograde orbit.
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IMAGE: NASA / JPL / VOYAGER 2
TRITON IMAGE VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS