Neptune
Neptune is usually
the eighth planet from the Sun. Its path crosses with Pluto's so sometimes
it is the ninth. It is about thirty times further from the Sun and four times
bigger than the Earth. Neptune's year is about 165 Earth years. Its day is
about 19 hours. It has a small rocky core, surrounded by gases. Its deep blue
color is due to the absorption of red light by methane gas in its atmosphere.
Neptune is the windiest planet in the solar system, with winds traveling up
to 2,000 kilometers per hour. On average, Neptune is 2.8 billion miles from
the sun. Its diameter is 30,775 miles.
Neptune is named after the Roman mythological god of the sea. A white plume-like
cloud named "The Scooter" circles the planet every 16 hours. Another
feature is the Great Dark Spot which probably is a storm. Neptune has 8 moons
and 4 rings.
Interesting Facts
· Neptune (and Uranus)
may contain diamonds. Great pressure and high temperatures near the cores
may have freed carbon from methane and squeezed the carbon into diamonds.
· Neptune may have rings, too, but they do not appear to circle the
entire planet.
· If you would expose your bare hand while visiting Uranus, Neptune
or Pluto, it would be freeze-dried instantly.
· If you weigh 100 pounds on Earth, you would weigh 119 pound on Neptune.
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1 Orbit of Sun
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60,152 Days
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1 Rotation
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19 Hours
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Distance From Sun
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2.8 Billion Miles
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Average Temperature
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-350° F
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Atmosphere
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Hydrogen, Helium, Methane
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Diameter
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30,775 Miles
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Other Sites
· The
Nine Planets (http://www.planets4kids.com/neptune.htm)
· KidsAstronomy.com
(http://www.kidsastronomy.com/neptune.htm)
· Introduction
to the Nine Planets (http://www.seds.org/billa/tnp/neptune.html)
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