Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Moons of Neptune
universetoday.com ^ | September 8, 2015 | Matt Williams

Posted on 09/09/2015 2:18:40 PM PDT by BenLurkin

Neptune’s moons are ...all are named for gods of the sea, or for the children of Poseidon (which include Triton, Proteus, Depsina and Thalassa), minor Greek water dieties (Naiad and Nereid) or Nereids , the water nymphs in Greek mythology (Halimede, Galatea, Neso, Sao, Laomedeia and Psamathe).

Neptune’s Regular Moons are those located closest to the planet and which follow circular prograde orbits that lie in the planet’s equatorial plane. They are, in order of distance from Neptune: Naiad , Thalassa , Despina, Galatea, Larissa , S/2004 N 1, and Proteus. All but the outer two are within Neptune-synchronous orbit...

...Nevertheless, with the exception of Larissa and Proteus (which are largely rounded) all of Neptune’s inner moons are believed to be elongated in shape. In addition, all the inner moons dark objects, with geometric albedo ranging from 7 to 10%.

Neptune’s irregular moons consist of the planet’s remaining satellites (including Triton). They generally follow inclined eccentric and often retrograde orbits far from Neptune; the only exception is Triton, which orbits close to the planet following a circular orbit, though retrograde and inclined.

In order of their distance from the planet, the irregular moons are Triton, Nereid, Halimede, Sao, Laomedeia, Neso and Psamathe.... With the exception of Triton and Nereid, Neptune’s irregular moons are similar to those of other giant planets and are believed to have been gravitationally captured by Neptune.

The most widely-accepted is that Triton is a surviving member of a binary Kuiper Belt Object that was disrupted with an encounter with Neptune. In this scenario, Triton’s captured was the result of a three-body encounter, where it fell into a retrograde orbit while the other object was either destroyed or ejected in the process.

(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: astronomy; catastrophism; despina; galatea; halimede; laomedeia; larissa; naiad; neptune; nereid; neso; pluto; proteus; psamathe; s2004n1; sao; science; thalassa; tomvanflandern; triton; tvf; xplanets

1 posted on 09/09/2015 2:18:40 PM PDT by BenLurkin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Neptune’s moons are...pretty embarrassing to me and all my neighbors.


2 posted on 09/09/2015 2:22:56 PM PDT by Resettozero (I cannot comment on that because I'm not President yet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
Triton has geysers because of the tidal influence of Neptune...


3 posted on 09/09/2015 2:25:44 PM PDT by BigEdLB (We need to target the 'Ministry of Virtue' on Iranian bombing runs. It is not vituous)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 75thOVI; Abathar; agrace; aimhigh; Alice in Wonderland; AndrewC; aragorn; aristotleman; ...

Thanks BenLurkin.
In order of their distance from the planet, the irregular moons are Triton, Nereid, Halimede, Sao, Laomedeia, Neso and Psamathe.... With the exception of Triton and Nereid, Neptune's irregular moons are similar to those of other giant planets and are believed to have been gravitationally captured by Neptune. The most widely-accepted is that Triton is a surviving member of a binary Kuiper Belt Object that was disrupted with an encounter with Neptune. In this scenario, Triton's captured was the result of a three-body encounter, where it fell into a retrograde orbit while the other object was either destroyed or ejected in the process.



4 posted on 09/09/2015 2:26:44 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (What do we want? REGIME CHANGE! When do we want it? NOW)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Resettozero

At least they aren’t the moons of... well, you know.


5 posted on 09/09/2015 2:28:39 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: KevinDavis; annie laurie; Knitting A Conundrum; Viking2002; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Mmogamer; ...

Thanks BenLurkin.
In order of their distance from the planet, the irregular moons are Triton, Nereid, Halimede, Sao, Laomedeia, Neso and Psamathe.... With the exception of Triton and Nereid, Neptune's irregular moons are similar to those of other giant planets and are believed to have been gravitationally captured by Neptune. The most widely-accepted is that Triton is a surviving member of a binary Kuiper Belt Object that was disrupted with an encounter with Neptune. In this scenario, Triton's captured was the result of a three-body encounter, where it fell into a retrograde orbit while the other object was either destroyed or ejected in the process.
Thanks .
 
X-Planets
· join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic · subscribe ·
Google news searches: exoplanet · exosolar · extrasolar ·

6 posted on 09/09/2015 2:29:38 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (What do we want? REGIME CHANGE! When do we want it? NOW)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

What about Moons over Uranus?.......................


7 posted on 09/09/2015 2:44:40 PM PDT by Red Badger (READ MY LIPS: NO MORE BUSHES!...............)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Wipes out klingons


8 posted on 09/09/2015 3:16:33 PM PDT by Vaquero ( Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Winds moving close to the speed of sound, temperature almost absolute zero, geysers 5 miles high (composed of what), all beyond comprehension.


9 posted on 09/09/2015 3:26:53 PM PDT by odawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vaquero

Since Klingons enjoy drinking Prune Juice, in huge quantities, it could get very messy..........................


10 posted on 09/10/2015 6:11:10 AM PDT by Red Badger (READ MY LIPS: NO MORE BUSHES!...............)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

A warrior’s drink!


11 posted on 09/10/2015 7:07:00 AM PDT by Vaquero ( Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson