Neptune is the eighth planet in our Solar System. It is positioned between Uranus and Pluto, and is sometimes called the Blue Giant. The planet is nearly 49,500 kilometers in diameter, making it nearly 4 times the size of our planet, Earth. Also, Neptune is situated around 4.4 billion kilometers from Earth, and therefore, it is not visible to naked eyes. Even using binoculars, you will not be able to see the planet clearly.
Here are some interesting facts about Neptune:
• Neptune was observed by many astronomers from ancient times. Even the great Galileo observed Neptune, but did not realize that he was looking at a planet. In ancient times, the telescopes were not powerful enough to help the researchers and astronomers discern planets. So when Neptune was seen, the astronomers could not see the disc shape of the planet.
• The planet was discovered through mathematical calculations. In the year 1843, a mathematician and astronomer from Britain was instrumental in calculating where Neptune was located. As per the calculations, it was estimated that Neptune was one billion miles further from Sun compared to Uranus.
• Another French astronomer was interested in Neptune and was calculating its position. He also has the same results as the British astronomer.
• Based on the calculations of the French astronomer, Neptune was discovered by Johann C. Galle on September 23, 1846.
• The discovery of Neptune is credited to the British astronomer as well as the French astronomer.
• As Neptune looks blue, it was named after the Roman god of sea, just like all the other planets in our Solar System are named after Roman gods.
• The core of the planet consists of iron, nickel and other silicates. While the mantle of Neptune is made up of water, methane, ammonia and other chemical compounds. The mantle of the planet is
very hot with temperature ranging from 3000 K to 5000 K.
• The atmosphere of Neptune is made up of 80 percent hydrogen, 19 percent helium, and 1 percent of ammonia, water and methane.
• The planet gets its characteristic blue color because methane present in its atmosphere absorbs the red light from the sun and then reflects it as blue into space.
• Till today, researchers and astronomers have discovered thirteen moons revolving around Neptune. It is quite possible there are still more moons waiting to be discovered.
• Voyager 2 was the first spaceship to reach Neptune in the year 1989. It took images of the planet and through these images, researchers found that the planet has five rings. These rings are called Galle, LeVerrier, Lassell, Arago and Adams. It is believed that the rings formed when one of planet's moons got too close and broke up into millions of particles as a result of Neptune's gravity.
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