Neptune

Symbol
Diameter	49532 km, 3.89 x Earth's
Mass	17.2 ME
Volume	54 VE
Average Distance from Sun	4497 x 106km = 30.058 AU
Colour	Blue
Temperature	-180°C
Atmosphere	Hydrogen, helium and methane
Length of Day	16.1 hours
Length of Year	165 years
No. of Moons	8
Gravity	1.194 x Earth's

Neptune is the eighth planet in the Solar System, and the last of the gas giants. It was discovered in 1846.

Neptune looks blue, like Uranus, and also has a dark spot, which is a huge storm, like the Great Red Spot on Jupiter.

Neptune was actually the furthest planet from the Sun between 1979 and February 1999 because Pluto’s orbit is so oval that it sometimes passes inside Neptune's.

Neptune has rings like Saturn's that are made of dust and small pieces of rock. They are much harder to see than Saturn’s because they are made of a much darker material that doesn’t reflect the Sun’s light as well.

Neptune has the fastest winds in the Solar System, reaching speeds of 2000 kph.

		Planets Introduction
		Mercury
		Venus
		Earth
		The Moon
		Mars
		Jupiter
		Saturn
		Uranus
		Pluto
		Asteroids
		Comets
		Meteorites
		Extra-Solar Planets

Authors: Carolyn Brinkworth and Claire Thomas

Last updated: July 2001