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Amazing Neptune Planet Facts for Kids

Amazing facts about neptune for kids

Neptune is the eighth and the last of our solar system’s planets from the Sun. It’s the third biggest planet and a lovely blue color. Neptune is the last planet we’ve ever found (now Pluto is only classified as a dwarf planet) and was only visited once by a spacecraft. Scroll for interesting Neptune planet facts

Neptune Planet Facts For Kids

1. Neptune originally called as La Verrier

Since the discovery of the planet by Jean Verrier, the original name that was assigned was after him. It was decided, however, that it should be named as the other planets after a Roman god. The name selected was Neptune because of its blue color, which is in line with the Roman God of the oceans.

2. Neptune was found by watching Uranus ‘ orbit:

It was seen that every time Uranus went around the Sun, a gravitational force pulled from its orbit at the same point. Further research led scientists to discover Neptune.

3. Neptune was discovered later than most of the planets:

While most of the planets nearer to Earth were found in the early years, this was really feasible because the other planets are as close to us as they are big in size. In 1846, Jean Verrier was able to properly define his presence.

4. Neptune has 14 moons:

The largest of these is called Triton and was found several months after Neptune’s discovery. Triton is a very unique moon as it orbits Neptune, but turns its axis in the opposite direction. This implies that they spin in opposite directions. Imagine walking around an object like a vehicle (the Sun) while spinning in an anti-clockwise circle (Triton) around the clockwise (Neptune) with a friend walking around you.

 

5. Neptune flew only one spacecraft:

The spacecraft Voyager 2 swept past the planet in 1989. It returned the Neptune system’s first close-up pictures. The NASA / ESA Hubble Space Telescope, like a number of ground-based telescopes, also explored this planet.

6. Approx 60,000 days in earth = 1 year in Neptune:

Yes, Neptune is the slowest planet to complete its sun revolution. Neptune finishes one by the time Earth completes 165 revolutions. Planet Neptune finished its first revolution in 2011 after being discovered in 1846.

Neptune is 4345 kilometers (2,700 million miles) from Earth.

7. Neptune has no surface:

Did you know you couldn’t stand at all on Neptune? That’s because no strong surface is available. Neptune is made entirely of gas, making it one of the solar system’s gas giants. It has just an inner layer of water ice and a couple of other gasses.

8. Neptune is extremely cold:

Neptune is highly cold, whether owing to the atmospheric composition of gases or just the sheer distance from the sun. It is already about 47,000 kilometers away from the sun, causing it to be near to -200 degrees in temperature.

9. Neptune also has rings of its own:

Well, you might not be able to readily spot the rings with Saturn as you can. Neptune, however, has its own set of faint rings with a yellowish hue. These are mainly icy particles and dust that float around it.

10. Neptune is one of the giants of gas:

It consists of layers of 29% helium, 80% hydrogen and methane gas trace. It has no solid surface but is supposed to have a solid core, which is similar to the Earth-size.

11. Neptune has a unique and powerful magnetic field:

It’s about 27 times as strong as Earth’s. Compared to other planets, it is special because it is not in line with the axis of the planet and is therefore tipped at an angle of 47 degrees on its side.

12. Earth is as small as the core of Neptune:

Neptune is a giant indeed. The strong core at Neptune’s center is approximately equivalent to Earth’s size. And like Jupiter, Neptune also has its own storm around it. That storm is a big black place on the ground, somewhat bigger than Earth itself.

Amazing facts about neptune for kids

Image Source – BING

Neptune’s Great Dark Spot

The Voyager 2 spacecraft first discovered the Great Dark Spot in Neptune’s southern atmosphere in 1989. It was an incredibly large rotating storm system with up to 1,500 miles of winds per hour, the strongest winds on any planet recorded. To this day, how such strong winds have been found on a planet so far away from the sun is still regarded as a mystery.

Data from the Voyager 2 spacecraft also showed that during their brief passage of the planet, the Great Dark Spot varied significantly in size. The Great Dark Spot had disappeared when Neptune was viewed by the Hubble Space telescope in 1994, although another dark spot had appeared in the northern hemisphere of Neptune.

It is a choice to make between data and keeping stuff interesting to put together for  Neptune planet facts for children. Helping invoke the wonder of space and planets can assist your kid to grow a science interest and discover out more facts on its own.

Also Read: Space Related Facts For Your Kids

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