The Equator is an imaginary line around the middle of the Earth.

Neptune

Neptune is the eight farthest planet from the sun and the fourth largest. Neptune is so far away from Earth that it can only been seen through a telescope. Neptune has the most violent weather in the solar system. Neptune's atmosphere is a mix of hydrogen and helium. Neptune's blue color comes from a small amount of methane. Neptune has the fastest winds in the solar system, blowing up to 1200 miles per hour. Neptune orbits the Sun every 165 years. A day on Neptune is 16 hours and 6.7 minutes. Neptune was visited by NASA's Voyager 2 in August, 1989. Neptune is named after the Roman God of the Sea.

Neptune has at least 8 moons. The largest moon is called Triton. Neptune has a giant storm called The Great Dark Spot. Neptune was discovered by Johann Galle and Heinrich D'Arrest in 1846.  Neptune has an inner rocky core that is surrounded by a vast ocean of water mixed with rocky material. Neptune has several very faint rings. The surface of Neptune is very cold, yet the center of the planet is warm because it has an internal heat source.

Facts about Neptune

Distance from the Sun: 2.79 billion miles

Diameter at the equator: 30,062 miles

Time taken for 1 orbit: 164.8 years

Return to Space

Did you know?

When the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, it casts a shadow and causes an eclipse.

The Earth is 93 million miles from the Sun.

There is a high and low tide because of our moon and the Sun.

Billions of years from now, the Sun will swell up to become a red giant which in time will shrink to become a tiny star called a white dwarf.