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Neptune

Neptune
Neptune Full Disk View. Photojournal: PIA01492 Source: https://www.nasa.gov/ NASA/JPL Published: October 30, 1998. This picture of Neptune was produced from the last whole planet images taken through the green and orange filters on the Voyager 2 narrow an

Atmospheric Haze: The "red rim" haze on Neptune refers to a distinctive reddish layer or band observed in the upper atmosphere of the planet. This feature is a part of the complex atmospheric dynamics of Neptune.

The Great Dark Spot: Similar to Jupiter's Great Red Spot, Neptune has a large dark storm in its atmosphere known as the Great Dark Spot. This storm system is about the size of Earth and was first observed by the Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1989. However, when the Hubble Space Telescope later observed Neptune, the Great Dark Spot had disappeared, indicating that Neptune's atmosphere is dynamic and subject to change.

Cirrus Cloud: Cirrus clouds on Neptune, much like on Earth, are wispy, high-altitude clouds composed of ice crystals. In Neptune's case, these cirrus clouds are found in the upper atmosphere, primarily in the region where temperatures are extremely cold.

Supersonic Winds: Neptune experiences incredibly high-speed winds, with gusts that can reach up to 2,100 kilometers per hour (1,300 miles per hour). These are the fastest winds recorded in the solar system.

Origin: Dark, cold, and whipped by supersonic winds, ice giant Neptune is the eighth and most distant planet in our solar system. Neptune, like the other planets in our solar system, formed about 4.6 billion years ago from the solar nebula. 

Discovery: More than 30 times as far from the Sun as Earth, Neptune is the only planet in our solar system not visible to the naked eye and the first predicted by mathematics before its discovery. In 2011 Neptune completed its first 165-year orbit since its discovery in 1846. Neptune—the eighth and most distant major planet orbiting our Sun—is dark, cold and whipped by supersonic winds. It was the first planet located through mathematical calculations. Neptune was discovered on September 23, 1846, by the German astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle, based on calculations by Urbain Le Verrier and John Couch Adams, who independently predicted the existence and position of the planet.

History: Neptune is named after the Roman god of the sea. Before its discovery, it was not known to ancient astronomers due to its dimness and slow orbit. NASA's Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to have visited Neptune up close. It flew past in 1989

Orbit Eccentricity: 0.011

Orbit Length: Neptune is located approximately 4.5 billion kilometers (2.8 billion miles) away from the Sun.

Rotation: Neptune rotates on its axis, but it has a peculiar rotational characteristic. It has one of the fastest rotations among the planets, completing one rotation in about 16 hours and 6 minutes.

Rotation Length: A day on Neptune (the time it takes for one complete rotation) is approximately 16 hours and 6 minutes.

Length of Day: Neptune's day is about 16 hours and 6 minutes long.

Length of Year: 165 years.

Escape Velocity: 23,5 km/s

Distance from Sun in AU (Astronomical Unit): 30AU

Spherical Specification: Neptune is an oblate spheroid, meaning it is mostly spherical but slightly flattened at the poles.

Moon/Natural Satellites: Neptune has 14 known moons, with the largest moon being Triton.

Rings: Neptune has a faint system of rings, which were first discovered in 1984. Neptune has at least five main rings and four more ring arcs, which are clumps of dust and debris likely formed by the gravity of a nearby moon.

Gravity: 1.12

Mass: Neptune has a mass of approximately 1.03 x 10^26 kilograms, which is about 17.15 times the mass of Earth.

Composition/Structure: Neptune is primarily composed of a mixture of ices, including water, ammonia, and methane, above a small rocky core. It is considered an ice giant.

Missions: As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, there have been no dedicated missions to Neptune, but there have been proposed missions for future exploration.

Temperature: Neptune is extremely cold, with temperatures dropping as low as -224 degrees Celsius (-371 degrees Fahrenheit).

Magnetic Field: Neptune has a strong magnetic field, tilted relative to its rotational axis.

North Pole / South Pole: Due to Neptune's axial tilt, its poles experience long periods of continuous sunlight or darkness during its orbit around the Sun.

Geological Environment/Activity: Neptune is primarily composed of ices and gases. It does not have a solid surface like terrestrial planets, so traditional geological activities like volcanism and tectonic plate movement do not occur.

Atmosphere: Neptune has a thick atmosphere primarily composed of hydrogen, helium, and traces of methane. It has a dynamic weather system with features like storms and high-speed winds.

Size/Diameter: Neptune has a diameter of approximately 49,244 kilometers (30,598 miles), making it the fourth-largest planet in our solar system.

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