Space facts about Neptune

Neptune is the farthest planet away from the sun and comes 8th among all the planets in the solar system.

The distance between the sun and Neptune is 4.5 billion kilometres (2.8 billion miles).

It takes around 16 hours to rotate on its axis. In other words, a day in Neptune is equal to 16 hours.

Moreover, it takes around 165 Earth years to revolve around the sun.

It may be the least discussed planet, probably because a few missions have been successful in venturing it closely.

Despite the fact, one might call it a planet full of wonders.

It is the only planet that cannot be seen simply with our eyes.

Just like Uranus, NASA's Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to observe Neptune in close proximity.

In 1989, it flew past through its way out of the solar system.
 

Below you will find a list of ten interesting facts about the planet Neptune, and it might fill you with a mild surprise or shock you pleasantly.

1. Neptune- the farthest planet
 

Neptune was first discovered in 1846 and is therefore called the distant planet in the solar system.

However, this discovery was followed by the discovery of Pluto in the year 1930.

The discovery of Pluto led everyone to conclude that it was the farthest planet that exists in the solar system, and Neptune was the second-largest planet that follows Pluto.

However, Pluto's orbit is elliptical, which makes it move closer to the sun at places as compared to Neptune.

This lasted from 1979-1979 when Neptune again was called the farthest planet away from the sun.

In recent times, this fact holds true as Pluto is called a dwarf planet as it fails to meet up to criteria set up by IAU to be called a planet.

2. Discovery of Neptune still a debate
 

There is quite a controversy regarding the discovery of the planet Neptune.

Galileo was the first person to have discovered the planet, but he noted it down as a star in his drawings.

Going with the rules, he, therefore, cannot be credited with the discovery of Neptune.

Urbain Le Verrier was the first person to predict the planet's existence.

In the year 1846, an astronomer named Johann Gottfried Galle,

In assistance with Heinrich Louis d'Arrest, confirmed the predictions through telescopic observations thus made.

This, in turn, declared the Newtonian gravitational theory entirely valid.

 According to François Arago aptly put the phrase, Le Verrier discovered a planet just "with the point of his pen."

3. Neptune- the least gas-giant planet
 

Neptune is known as the Ice-giant planet as it is a ball of ice and is also known as the minor gas-giant planet in the solar system.

If you consider standing on the surface of the planet, there is a piece of bad news for you.

You will sink in if you try standing on its surface.

The gravity of Neptune is 17% greater than that of earth.

So, you can understand that if you have a chance of walking on the surface of Neptune, you can do that with almost ease.

The mass of Neptune is 17 times that of the earth.

4. Wind speeds of Neptune

Neptune is the only planet where the strongest winds blow.

They are stronger than a hurricane.

This fact is a foundation for many debates.

Scientists are puzzled regarding the cause behind such strong winds.

One explanation is that friction is reduced due to colder temperatures and liquid gases, thereby producing strong winds.

This explains why the cloud tops of Neptune move so fast.

5. Neptune capturing Triton

The moon of Neptune is Triton which moves in retrograde with the planet.

Other moons surrounding the planet do not act in a similar way.

The rotation of Triton is in synchronism with the planet, and gradually, it is moving in proximity to the planet.

It is predicted that billions of years later, the gravitational pull of Neptune will tear apart Triton, which will lead to the formation of a ring.

The ring thus formed will eventually collide with the planet and cease to exist.

To wrap up!

Thus, you get to see interesting and unique facts about the planet Neptune.

This article answers important questions you might be having about Neptune.

It informs us about various things starting from its origin to its supersonic winds.

This article quenches your quest for the world of planets in the solar system.