Essays on Neptune

Neptune is the eighth and farthest planet from the Sun in the Solar System. It is the fourth-largest planet by diameter and the third-largest by mass. Neptune is 17 times the mass of Earth and is slightly more massive than its near-twin Uranus, which is 15 times the mass of Earth but not as dense. Neptune orbits the Sun once every 164.8 years. It is named after the Roman god of the sea and has the astronomical symbol ♆, a stylised version of the god Neptune's trident.Neptune is not visible to the unaided eye and is the only planet in the Solar System found by mathematical prediction rather than by empirical observation. Unexpected changes in the orbit of Uranus led Alexis Bouvard to deduce that its orbit was subject to gravitational perturbation by an unknown planet. Neptune was subsequently observed with a telescope on 23 September 1846 by Johann Galle within a degree of the position predicted by Urbain Le Verrier. Its largest moon, Triton, was discovered shortly thereafter, though none of the planet's remaining known 14 moons were located telescopically until the 20th century. The planet's distance from Earth gives it a very faint apparent magnitude, making it challenging to study with Earth-based telescopes.The planet's atmosphere, similar to Jupiter's and Saturn's, is composed primarily of hydrogen and helium, along with trace amounts of methane, water vapor, and ammonia. However, its climate has some unique features, due to the very cold temperatures found there. These include the fact that Neptune's atmosphere has the strongest winds of any planet in the Solar System, reaching speeds up to 2,100 km/h. The temperature on Neptune's surface varies widely, from -218 °C at the poles to -153 °C at the equator. Neptune also has the strongest internal heat source of any planet in the Solar System, thought to be due to the ongoing collapse of its rocky core.

Neptune is best known for being the eighth planet from the Sun, as well as being the farthest planet from the Sun. Neptune is also known for its extremely cold temperatures, as well as its large and dark spot, called the Great Dark Spot.

Neptune is the eighth and farthest known planet from the Sun in the Solar System. In the Solar System, it is the fourth-largest planet by diameter, the third-most-massive planet, and the densest giant planet. Neptune is 17 times the mass of Earth, making it slightly more massive than its near-twin Uranus. Neptune is denser and physically smaller than Uranus, but only slightly.Neptune was the first planet found via mathematical prediction rather than empirical observation. Unexpected changes in the orbit of Uranus led Alexis Bouvard to deduce that its orbit was subject to gravitational perturbation by an unknown planet. Neptune was subsequently observed on 23 September 1846 by Johann Galle within a degree of the predicted position. Its largest moon, Triton, was discovered shortly thereafter, though none of the planet's remaining known 12 moons were located telescopically until the 20th century.Neptune has the strongest recorded wind speeds of any planet in the Solar System, with wind speeds up to 2,100 kilometers per hour (1,300 mph).Neptune is the coldest planet in the Solar System, with temperatures at its core averaging -228 degrees Celsius.Neptune's atmosphere is very active, with frequent large storms that are visible from Earth. The most famous of these is the Great Dark Spot, which was a large storm that was visible from Earth in 1989.Neptune is home to the largest moon in the Solar System, Triton. Triton is a frozen world, with a surface covered in ice.Neptune has a very faint and tenuous ring system.Neptune is the only planet in the Solar System that is not visible to the naked eye.Neptune was named after the Roman god of the sea.