Neptune

The definition of Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun.

Facts About Neptune

• Astronomers had noticed that Uranus was not always where they expected it to be, so they concluded that another planet’s gravity was influencing it.
• Neptune is the coldest planet in the solar system. Surface temperatures can get down to -235 degrees Celsius.
• In size and color, it is almost a twin to Uranus.
• Its diameter is 30,775 miles which is four times more than Earth’s.
• Neptune’s orbit around the Sun takes 165 Earth years.
• Neptune's atmosphere consists of hydrogen, helium, ammonia and methane. It appears blue because of the methane in its atmosphere.

• The upper layer of Neptune's atmosphere consists of frozen methane and the lower, dark layer is made of hydrogen sulfide.
• The layers of the atmosphere swirl rapidly, up to 750 miles an hour, and occasionally there are huge storms that rotate like hurricanes.
• It has a large storm in its southern hemisphere called the Great Dark Spot, similar to Jupiter's Greast Red Spot.
• Neptune’s winds are the strongest in the solar system.
• Scientists think there may be a core of rock and ice.
• There are 13 moons orbiting around Neptune.
• There are three rings that are fairly thick and one very faint ring. They are much smaller than the rings of Saturn and are made of dust.
• In 1989, Voyager 2 observed geysers or volcanoes that were spewing liquid nitrogen and recorded 11 moons.