In the hectic days of the world for the average person often reduced to the size of the work and at home.Meanwhile, if you look at the sky, we can see how it is insignificant on the scale of the universe.Maybe that's why the young romantics dream to devote himself to the conquest of space and the study of the stars.Scientists, astronomers have never for a moment forget that, in addition to the Earth, with its problems and joys, many other remote and mysterious objects.One of them - the planet Neptune, the eighth degree of distance from the Sun, inaccessible to direct observation and therefore doubly attractive to researchers.
How it all began
In the middle of the XIX century the solar system, according to scientists, contained only seven planets.Neighbors of the Earth, near and far, have been studied with the use of all available advances in technology and computing.Many of the characteristics described initially in theory, and then to find practical confirmation.With the calculation of the orbit of Uranus things were somewhat different.Thomas John Hussey, astronomer and priest discovered the discrepancy actual trajectory of the alleged planet.The conclusion could be only one: there is an object affecting the orbit of Uranus.In fact, it was the first report of the planet Neptune.
After almost ten years (in 1843) at the same time, two researchers calculated the orbit of a planet can move, forcing the gas giant to make room.It was the Englishman John Adams and Urbain Frenchman Jean Joseph Le Verrier.Independently of each other, but with different accuracy are determined path of movement of the body.
detection and identification
Neptune was found in the night sky astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle, Le Verrier which came with your calculations.French scientist, then a section with Halle and Adams glory pioneer, made a mistake in calculations only on the degree.Officially, Neptune appeared in scientific writings of September 23, 1846.
originally proposed the planet be named after Janus, but this designation does not stick.Astronomers are more inspired by comparing the new facility with the king of the seas and oceans, as alien terra firma as, apparently, and discovered planet.Name Verrier Neptune suggested and supported Struve, the head of the Pulkovo Observatory.The name was given, could only understand what the composition of Neptune's atmosphere, whether it is all that is hidden in its depths, and so on.
Compared with the Earth
Since the discovery took a long time.Today, on the eighth planet of the solar system we know so much more.Neptune is much greater than the size of the Earth: its diameter is more than about 4 times, and weight - 17 times.A considerable distance from the Sun leaves no doubt that the weather on the planet Neptune also significantly different from the Earth.Here there can be no life.It's not even in the wind or some unusual events.Neptune's atmosphere and surface are virtually a single structure.This is a characteristic of the gas giants, which include and this planet.
imaginary surface
Planet density considerably inferior to Earth (1.64 g / cc), allowing to set foot on its surface is not easy.And as such, it is not.Level the surface agreed to recognize the magnitude of the pressure: supple and more like a liquid "solid" is located in the lower layers of the atmosphere where the pressure is equal to one bar and, in fact, is part of it.Any message about the planet Neptune as a space object of a particular size is based on this definition, the imaginary surface of a giant.
obtained taking into account the characteristics of the parameters are as follows:
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diameter at the equator is 49.5 thous. Km;
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size in the plane of the poles - nearly 48.7 thousand. Km.
ratio of these characteristics makes the Neptune in the form far from the circle.He, like the blue planet, slightly flattened at the poles.
composition of the atmosphere of Neptune
mixture of gases enveloping the planet, much of the content is different from the Earth.The overwhelming part of hydrogen (80%), the second position is helium.This inert gas contributes significantly to the composition of the atmosphere of Neptune - 19%.Methane is less than one percent, and ammonia are found, but in small quantities.
Ironically, one percent of methane as part of a strong effect on what kind of atmosphere of Neptune, and what all the gas giant from the standpoint of an external observer.This chemical compound is the planet's clouds and does not reflect light waves corresponding to red.As a result, the spacecraft flying past Neptune is painted in deep blue.This color - one of the mysteries of the planet.Scientists do not fully know what exactly leads to the absorption of the red part of the spectrum.
all gas giants tend to the presence of an atmosphere.Neptune Among them are the color names.Thanks to these characteristics it is called an ice planet.Stilled methane, its existence adds weight compared with an iceberg of Neptune, and includes a part of the mantle surrounding the core of the planet.
internal structure
core of a space object containing iron, nickel, magnesium and silicon compounds.At the core of its mass is approximately equal to the entire world.Thus, unlike the other elements of the internal structure, it has a density similar parameter exceeding Blue planet twice.
core is covered, as already mentioned, the mantle.Its composition is similar in many respects to the weather: here the presence of ammonia, methane and water.Mass is fifteen layers of the earth, while it is hot (up to 5000 K).Mantle has no clear boundaries and the atmosphere of the planet Neptune smoothly flows into it.A mixture of hydrogen and helium in the upper part of the structure.Smooth transformation of one element into another, and blurred the boundaries between them - the properties common to all gas giants.
difficulties
research findings about what the atmosphere of Neptune, which is typical for its structure, made largely on the basis of already obtained data about Uranus, Jupiter and Saturn.Distance from the planet Earth makes it difficult to study it.
In 1989, close to Neptune flying spacecraft "Voyager 2".It was the only meeting of the ice giant with earthly messenger.The fruitfulness of it, however, is obvious: most of the information about Neptune is that science has provided the ship.In particular, the "Voyager 2" found large and small dark spots.Both blackened area is well visible on a background of blue atmosphere.To date, it is unclear what is the nature of these structures, but it is assumed that this eddy currents or cyclones.They appear in the upper atmosphere and at great speed rush around the planet.
Perpetual Motion
Many parameters determines the presence of an atmosphere.Neptune characterizes not only an unusual color, but also the constant movement created by wind.The speed with which clouds fly around the planet near the equator, more than a thousand kilometers per hour.They move with the opposite with respect to the rotation axis of Neptune's direction.This turns the planet more quickly: a full turn takes only 16 hours and 7 minutes.For comparison, one revolution around the sun takes about 165 years.
another mystery: the wind speed in the atmosphere of gas giants have increased with distance from the Sun and reaches a peak on Neptune.This phenomenon has not yet been studies, as well as some features of the temperature of the planet.
heat distribution
weather Neptune is characterized by gradual changes in temperature depending on altitude.That layer of the atmosphere, where the surface is conditioned, fully corresponds to the second name space body (ice planet).The temperature is lowered to nearly -200 ºC.If you move away from the surface of the above, it will significantly increase the heat up to 475º.Scientists still have not found a decent explanation of such differences.As expected, Neptune has an internal heat source.Such a "heater" should produce twice as much energy as comes to the planet from the sun.The heat from this source in conjunction with drifted here from the energy of our star, and probably is the reason for the strong winds.
However, neither sunlight nor internal "heater" can not raise the temperature on the surface, so that there was a noticeable change of seasons.Although other conditions for this are met, to distinguish the winter from summer on Neptune impossible.
magnetosphere
Research "Voyager 2" helped scientists learn more about the magnetic field of Neptune.It is much different from the earth: the source is not in the nucleus and in the mantle, so that the magnetic axis of the planet's heavily biased relative to its center.
One of the functions of the field - protection against the solar wind.The shape of the magnetosphere of Neptune greatly extended: defensive lines in that part of the planet, which is illuminated, located at a distance of 600 thousand. Km of surface and on the opposite side - more than 2 million kilometers.
Voyager fixed voltage instability of the field and the location of the magnetic lines.Such properties of the planet also has not explained until the end of science.
Rings
At the end of the XIX century, when scientists have not sought an answer to the question of whether there is an atmosphere on Neptune before them there was another problem.It was necessary to explain why on the way the eighth planet the star begins to fade to the viewer a little bit earlier than them approaching Neptune.
solve the problem happened only after almost a century.In 1984, using a powerful telescope able to see the brightest ring planet, later called the name of one of the discoverers of Neptune - John Adams.
Further investigation found several such entities.They closed the stars in the path of the planet.Today, astronomers believe the owner of the six rings of Neptune.In them lies another mystery.Adams ring consists of several temples, which are located at some distance from each other.The reason for this placement is unclear.Some researchers are inclined to think that keeps them in this position the force of the gravitational field of one of the moons of Neptune - Galatea.Other significant lead counterargument: its dimensions are so small that it is unlikely to cope with the task.Perhaps there are still a number of unknown number of satellites to help Galatea.
the whole planet's rings - a spectacle that is inferior to the beauty and impressiveness similar formations of Saturn.Not least in some dim appearance plays a part.Rings generally contain methane ice lumps coated with silicon compounds which readily absorb light.
satellites
Neptune - the owner (at last count) 13 satellites.Most of them are small.Outstanding options only Triton is only slightly inferior to the diameter of the Moon.The composition of the atmosphere of Neptune and Triton is different: a satellite has a shell of gas from a mixture of nitrogen and methane.These substances give a very interesting view of the planet: the frozen nitrogen inclusions of methane ice on the surface creates in the South Pole now a riot of colors: yellow modulations combined with white and pink.
Fate handsome Triton, meanwhile, is not so rosy.Scientists predict his encounter with Neptune and absorption of them.As a result, the eighth planet will become the new owner of the ring brightness comparable to the formations of Saturn and even ahead of them.The rest of Neptune's moons are considerably inferior Triton, some of them do not even have names yet.
eight planets of the Solar system largely to its name, on the choice of which affected the availability of the atmosphere - Neptune.Its composition contributes to the appearance of the characteristic blue color.Neptune is rushing through space incomprehensible to us, like the god of the seas.And similar to the ocean depths that part of the space, which begins beyond Neptune, keeps a lot of secrets from the man.The scientists of the future will only open them.
