Neptune
Neptune
Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun, and receives only 1/900 of the sunlight received at Earth. Of the 4 giant planets, it radiates the most internal heat relative to what it receives from the Sun.
Credit: (NASA/JPL)
It also has the strongest winds in the solar system, in excess of 800 miles per hour. A large storm, the Great Dark Spot, was seen by Voyager but disappeared in the 1990s.
Moons
Global color mosaic of Triton, taken in 1989 by Voyager 2 during its flyby of the Neptune system.
Credit: (NASA/JPL/USGS)
Fun Facts
- Discovered in 1846, based on predictions from variations in Uranus' orbit
- 14 moons and counting
- the largest, Triton, has active nitrogen geysers faint rings
- A year on Neptune lasts ~165 years
Missions
Voyager 2: 1989 flyby