answersLogoWhite

0

Facts about Neptunes surface

Updated: 8/10/2023
User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

Best Answer

Neptune is actually the farthest planet from the Sun because Neptune's orbit is oval shaped. It takes Neptune 165 years to orbit the Sun. So each season on Neptune lasts for 40 years. ACTUALLY it takes neptune 164 years to revolve and 0.67 earth days to rotate

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

The Planet Neptune

It is the farthest major planet from the Sun, a bright blue gas giant that has 17 times the mass of Earth.

(see related question)

The Roman God Neptune

He is the Roman God of the Sea, about the same as the Greek god Poseidon.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago
  • Neptune is a large planet, nearly four times the size of Earth.
  • Neptune suffers the most violent weather in our Solar System.
  • Storms have been spotted swirling around its surface and freezing winds that blow about ten times faster than hurricanes on Earth make it the windiest planet.
  • Neptune is a large, water planet with a blue hydrogen-methane atmosphere and faint rings.
  • Neptune is covered in thin wispy white clouds which stretch out around the planet.
This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

Neptune doesn't really have a "surface" per se, at least not one that we can see. What we're seeing when we look at Neptune is the point at which its atmosphere becomes more or less opaque to visible light, and the only features visible are things like high-altitude clouds and storm systems.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

Neptune's blue appearance comes from the layer of methane gas that sits above the clouds. Methane absorbs red light, so only the bluish colors show up when viewing the planet.

Much is still unknown about Neptune, because the strong pressure makes it impossible for us to land on the planet. It is thought that there is an ocean of really hot water on Neptune's surface. The planet's pressure makes it impossible for the water to boil away.

The only spacecraft to visit Neptune was the Voyager 2 in 1989. Voyager confirmed that Neptune's atmosphere was very cold and very windy. In fact, the surface of Neptune reaches 200 degrees below zero! Regardless of the frigid temperatures, Neptune's core remains very warm. Neptune actually gives off more heat than it receives from the Sun.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

Because Neptune is a gas planet, it does not have terrain like the Earth. The gas is layered to the center of the planet and increases in heat as the depth increases. You could not stand on the surface of Neptune.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

7y ago

Facts about the planet Neptune :

- It is the 4th largest planet in the solar system. It is the 3rd most massive because it is denser than the slightly larger Uranus.

- It is the farthest major planet from the Sun (Pluto and other dwarf planets are farther). It averages 4.5 billion kilometers from the Sun.

- It takes nearly 165 Earth years (164.79) to orbit the Sun

- Its outer clouds are as cold as -373 degrees Fahrenheit (55 K)

- It has a storm called "the great dark spot"

- It is most windy planet in the solar system, with measured wind speeds as high as 600 meters/second or about 1300 miles per hour.

- It has rings like Saturn, only fainter

- Neptune was named for the Roman God of the Sea, Neptune.

- Its astronomical symbol is a stylized symbol of the God Neptune's trident.

- First planet found by mathematical prediction rather than empirical observation.

- Neptune has been visited by only one spacecraft, the Voyager 2.

- The interior of Neptune is primarily composed of ices and rock.

- Neptune is never visible to the human eye due to its dimness.

- Traces of methane in the outermost regions in part account for the planet's blue appearance.

- Neptune's outer atmosphere is one of the coldest places in the solar system with temperature's approaching -218 degrees Celsius.

- Before being named Neptune, the planet was referred to as "the planet exterior to Uranus" and "Le Verrier's Planet".

- In 2009, Neptune was given a Hebrew name, Rahav, a biblical word denoting a mythical sea monster.

- It has only completed a single orbit of the Sun since its discovery in 1846.

(see also the related link below)

The internal structure of Neptune:

1. Upper atmosphere, top clouds

2. Atmosphere consisting of hydrogen, helium and methane gas

3. Mantle consisting of water, ammonia and methane ices

4. Core consisting of rock (silicates and nickel-iron)

Neptune has a shorter day than the Earth. One day measures about 16 Earth hours. Since it is the eighth major planet from the sun, it has the longest year. It takes 165 Earth years for Neptune to make one complete orbit around the Sun.

Scientists believe Neptune has a hot, rocky core about the size of Earth. It is covered with an ocean of water and other chemicals. The atmosphere is mainly hydrogen and helium. The high heat inside Neptune causes convection currents. Neptune probably gets as much heat from its central core as it does from the Sun. However, the average surface temperature is -355 degrees Fahrenheit. That is very cold.

Several dark spots have been seen on Neptune. The largest is about the size of Earth. It is called The Great Dark Spot. It may be a gigantic storm like the Great Red Spot on Jupiter. The Great Dark Spot was first seen by the Voyager 2 space probe in 1989. In the 1990s, the Hubble Space Telescope could not find it. Astronomers are not sure why it disappeared or whether it will reappear.

Long wispy clouds race around Neptune. They are blown by the fastest winds in the solar system. Near the Great Dark Spot winds blow up to 1,200 mph! One cloud zooms around the planet once every 16 hours. Scientists have nicknamed it Scooter because it moves so quickly.

Even though Neptune diameter is 30,200 miles, it is the smallest of the four gas planets. Neptune actually looks like a star through binoculars.

Neptune has 8 moons. The biggest ones are Triton and Nereid. Triton is even bigger than the planet Pluto! Unlike most moons, Triton orbits in the opposite direction of Neptune's spin.

We now know that Neptune may have faint rings. Neptune's rings were found in 1989.

In 2011, Neptune completed its first orbit around the Sun since astronomers discovered it in 1846

Neptune has the strongest winds in the solar system.

Neptune is the coldest planet in the solar system, but its moon Triton is even colder.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

Plutos surface is rough and rocky. Also it is so far away from the sun, it is cold and icy.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

neptune is way colder than earth because it the farest from the sun

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

Uranus and Neptune are called the sister planets

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Facts about Neptunes surface
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp