Neptune

Neptune


Discovery
Discovered by Urbain Le Verrier
John Couch Adams
Johann Galle
Discovered on September 23, 1846
Orbital characteristics (Epoch J2000)
Semi-major axis 4,498,252,900 km
30.068 963 48 AU
Orbital circumference 28.263 Tm
188.925 AU
Eccentricity 0.008 585 87
Perihelion 4,459,631,496 km
29.810 795 27 AU
Aphelion 4,536,874,325 km
30.327 131 69 AU
Orbital period 60,223.3528 d
(164.88 a)
Synodic period 367.49 d
Avg. Orbital Speed 5.432 km/s
Max. Orbital Speed 5.479 km/s
Min. Orbital Speed 5.385 km/s
Inclination 1.769 17°
(6.43° to Sun's equator)
Longitude of the
ascending node		 131.721 69°
Argument of the
perihelion		 273.249 66°
Number of satellites 13
Physical characteristics
Equatorial diameter 49,528 km
(3.883 Earths)
Polar diameter 48,681 km
(3.829 Earths)
Oblateness 0.0171
Surface area 7.619×109 km2
Volume 6.254×1013 km3
(57.74 Earths)
Mass 1.0243×1026 kg
(17.147 Earths)
Mean density 1.638 g/cm3
Equatorial gravity
(At 1 bar)		 11.15 m/s2
(1.14 g)
Escape velocity 23.5 km/s
Rotation period 16.11 h (16 h 6 min 36 s)

Naming of Neptune

Shortly after its discovery, Neptune was referred to simply as "the planet exterior to Uranus" or as "Le Verrier's planet". The first suggestion for a name came from Galle. He proposed the name Janus. In England, Challis put forth the name Oceanus, particularly appropriate for a seafaring people. In France, Arago suggested that the new planet be called Leverrier, a suggestion which was met with stiff resistance outside France. French almanacs promptly reintroduced the name Herschel for Uranus and Leverrier for the new planet.

Meanwhile, on separate and independent occasions, Adams suggested altering the name Georgian to Uranus, while Leverrier (through the Board of Longitude) suggested Neptune for the new planet. Struve came out in favour of that name on December 29, 1846, to the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences ", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 7, pp. 121-144, November 13, 1846

  • Challis, J., Rev., "", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 7, pp. 145-149, November 13, 1846
  • Adams, J. C., "", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 7, p. 149, November 13, 1846
  • Galle, "", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 7, p. 153, November 13, 1846
  • Neptune: The Planet, Rings, and Satellites, Ellis D. Miner et Randii R. Wessen, 2002. ISBN 1-852-33216-6
  • Neptune and Triton, Dale P. Cruikshank, 1995. ISBN 0-816-51525-5
  • "The case of the pilfered planet - Did the British steal Neptune?", William Sheehan, Nicolas Kollerstrom and Craig B. Waff, Scientific American December 2004.

    Links



    Neptune's natural satellites


    Naiad | Thalassa | Despina | Galatea | Larissa | Proteus | Triton | Nereid

    S/2002 N 1 | S/2002 N 2 | S/2002 N 3 | S/2003 N 1 | S/2002 N 4

    see also: The Solar System



    Our Solar System

    Sun | Mercury | Venus | Earth (Moon) | Mars | Asteroid belt

    Jupiter | Saturn | Uranus | Neptune | Pluto (Charon) | Kuiper belt | Scattered disc | Oort cloud

    See also astronomical objects and the solar system's list of objects, sorted by radius or mass


    Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neptune"

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