Neptune is the eighth and farthest-known Solar planet from the Sun. In the Solar System, it is the fourth-largest planet by diameter, the third-most-massive planet, and the densest giant planet. It is 17 times the mass of Earth, slightly more massive than its near-twin Uranus. Neptune is denser and physically smaller than Uranus because its greater mass causes more gravitational compression of its atmosphere. The planet orbits the Sun once every 164.8 years at an average distance of 30.1 AU (4.5 billion km; 2.8 billion mi). It is named after the Roman god of the sea and has the astronomical symbol ♆, a stylised version of the god Neptune’s trident.Neptune
Photograph taken by NASA’s Voyager 2 in 1989
Discovery1
Discovered by•Johann Galle•Urbain Le Verrier
Discovery date23 September 1846DesignationsPronunciation/ˈnɛptjuːn/ ( listen)2
Named afterLatin Neptūnus, via French NeptuneAdjectivesNeptunian /nɛpˈtjuːniən/,3 Poseidean4
Orbital characteristics9[a]
Epoch J2000
Aphelion30.33 AU (4.54 billion km)
Perihelion29.81 AU (4.46 billion km)Semi-major axis30.07 AU (4.50 billion km)Eccentricity0.008678Orbital period•164.8 yr•60,182 days•89,666 Neptunian solar days5
Synodic period367.49 days6
Average orbital speed5.43 km/s6
Mean anomaly256.228°Inclination1.767975° to ecliptic6.43° to Sun’s equator0.74° to invariable plane7
Longitude of ascending node131.784°Time of perihelion2042-Sep-048
drogers30 over 3 years ago
Mine too!
AFFICIONADO over 3 years ago
Dirty Dancing?
Michael G. over 3 years ago
No, thanks.
St. Pillsbury over 3 years ago
Neptune
Neptune is the eighth and farthest-known Solar planet from the Sun. In the Solar System, it is the fourth-largest planet by diameter, the third-most-massive planet, and the densest giant planet. It is 17 times the mass of Earth, slightly more massive than its near-twin Uranus. Neptune is denser and physically smaller than Uranus because its greater mass causes more gravitational compression of its atmosphere. The planet orbits the Sun once every 164.8 years at an average distance of 30.1 AU (4.5 billion km; 2.8 billion mi). It is named after the Roman god of the sea and has the astronomical symbol ♆, a stylised version of the god Neptune’s trident.Neptune
Photograph taken by NASA’s Voyager 2 in 1989
Discovery1
Discovered by•Johann Galle•Urbain Le Verrier
Discovery date23 September 1846DesignationsPronunciation/ˈnɛptjuːn/ ( listen)2
Named afterLatin Neptūnus, via French NeptuneAdjectivesNeptunian /nɛpˈtjuːniən/,3 Poseidean4
Orbital characteristics9[a]
Epoch J2000
Aphelion30.33 AU (4.54 billion km)
Perihelion29.81 AU (4.46 billion km)Semi-major axis30.07 AU (4.50 billion km)Eccentricity0.008678Orbital period•164.8 yr•60,182 days•89,666 Neptunian solar days5
Synodic period367.49 days6
Average orbital speed5.43 km/s6
Mean anomaly256.228°Inclination1.767975° to ecliptic6.43° to Sun’s equator0.74° to invariable plane7
Longitude of ascending node131.784°Time of perihelion2042-Sep-048
Argument of perihelion276.336°Known satellites14
Physical characteristicsMean radius24,622±19 km10[b]
Equatorial radius24,764±15 km10[b]3.883 EarthsPolar radius24,341±30 km10[b]3.829 EarthsFlattening0.0171±0.0013Surface area7.6183×109 km211[b]14.98 EarthsVolume6.254×1013 km36[b]57.74 EarthsMass1.02413×1026 kg617.147 Earths5.15×10−5 SunsMean density1.638 g/cm36©
Surface gravity11.15 m/s26[b]1.14 g
Moment of inertia factor0.2312 (estimate)
Escape velocity23.5 km/
j.l.farmer over 3 years ago
My dad and i danced in the living room to Lawrence Welk every Saturday evening.
micromos over 3 years ago
Started as ballroom dancing but now is slut dancing.
christelisbetty over 3 years ago
Had to refocus my eyes, thought it said dancing shoes.
cuzinron47 over 3 years ago
Better go to your man cave to watch that.
mistercatworks over 3 years ago
Still better than “masked singers” trying to make a cult out of lip-sync.
pbr50138 over 3 years ago
My TV won’t get those types of shows.