Neptune - the planet, the eighth from the sun.In some places, its orbit intersects the orbit of Pluto.What planet Neptune?It belongs to the category of giants.Astrological sign - J.
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giant planet Neptune produces motion around the sun in an elliptical orbit close to circular.The length of the radius of 24,750 kilometers.This rate is four times greater than that of the Earth.Own the speed of rotation of the planet so quickly that the duration of the day here is 17.8 hours.
Planet Neptune from the Sun removed about 4.5 billion kilometers, therefore, the light of the object comes to a little more than four hours.
Although the average density of Neptune almost three times less than the Earth (it is 1.67 g / cc), its mass is 17.2 times higher.This is due to the large size of the planet.
Features composition, physical conditions and structure
Neptune and Uranus - the planet, which are based on solidified gases pyatnadtsatiprotsentnym content of hydrogen and a little helium.As scientists assume, in the blue giant has no clear internal structure.The most likely it is the fact that within the dense core of Neptune is small in size.
make up the planet's atmosphere, helium, hydrogen and methane with minor impurities.Neptune is often the case of large storms, in addition, it is characterized by strong winds and eddies.The last blow to the west, and their speed can reach up to 2200 km / h.
It has been observed that the rate of flow of currents and giant planets increases as the distance from the sun.The explanation of this law has not been found.Thanks to images taken with special equipment in Neptune's atmosphere, the opportunity to examine in detail the clouds.Just as Saturn or Jupiter, this planet has an internal heat source.It can emit up to three times more power than he receives from the sun.
giant step forward
According to historical documents, Galileo saw Neptune 28.12.1612 year.The second time, he was able to observe the unknown space body 29/01/1613 In both cases, the doctrine of the planet fixed star, which is in conjunction with Jupiter.For this reason, the discovery of Neptune Galileo is not credited.
found that in the period of observation in 1612 the planet was at the point of standing, and not just on the day when Galileo first saw her, she went to the retrograde motion.This process is observed in the case when the Earth in its orbit ahead of the outer planets.Since Neptune was not far from the point of standing, his movement was too weak to be able to notice a strong enough telescope of Galileo.
In 1781, Herschel was able to open a uranium.The researchers then calculated the parameters of its orbit.Based on these data, Herschel concluded that the presence of the mysterious anomaly in the motion of the space object: it is estimated ahead of then keep up with him.This fact allowed to assume that for Uranus is another planet, the gravitational pull of distorting its trajectory.
In 1843, Adams was able to calculate the orbit of a mysterious eighth planet in order to explain changes in the orbit of Uranus.Data on their work, scientists sent the astronomer king - James. Airy.Soon he had an e-mail request to bring clarification on some issues.Adams started doing sketches required, however, for some reason, I did not sent a message and will not initiated serious work on the subject.
direct discovery of the planet Neptune was due to the efforts of Le Verrier, Galle and d'Aro.09.23.1846 years, having available data on the system of the orbital elements of the desired object, they set to work to determine the precise location of the mysterious object.On the first evening their efforts were unsuccessful.The discovery of the planet Neptune at the time called the triumph of celestial mechanics.
Select title
After discovering the giant began to think about what to give him the title.The first option was proposed by Johann Galle.He wanted to christen the distant space object after the god Janus, symbolizing the beginning and the end in the ancient Roman mythology, but the name had not liked by many.Much warmer proposal was met Struve - director of the Pulkovo Observatory.His option - Neptune - and became final.Assigning the official name of the giant planet put an end to numerous disputes and disagreements.
How do notions of Neptune
sixty years ago, information about the blue giant different from today.Despite the fact that it was relatively well aware of the sidereal and synodic period of rotation around the sun, on the slope of the equator to the orbital plane, data were available, less precisely defined.Thus, the weight was estimated at 17.26 instead of real earthly 17.15 and equatorial radius - at 3.89 and 3.88 are not from our planet.With regard to the period of revolution around the star axis, it was believed that he is 15 h. 8 min., Which is less than the real fifty minutes.
Some other parameters were also malfunctioning.For example, before the "Voyager 2" closer to Neptune, to the extent possible, it was assumed that the magnetic field of the planet is similar in configuration to the earth.In fact, it resembles in appearance so-called inclined rotator.
little about orbital resonances
Neptune is able to influence at a great distance from him Kuiper Belt.The latter is represented by a ring of small icy planets similar to the asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars, but with a much greater extent.The Kuiper Belt is significantly influenced by the gravitational force of attraction of Neptune, bringing its structure formed even intervals.
orbits of those objects that are held in the said zone for a long period, established by the so-called secular resonances with Neptune.In certain cases, the time is comparable with the period of the solar system.
Zone Neptune gravitational stability called Lagrange points.They planet holds a large number of asteroids, Trojans, like dragging them along the entire orbit.
Features internal structure
In this respect, similar to Neptune and Uranus.In the atmosphere accounts for about twenty percent of the total mass of the planet under consideration.The closer to the core, the higher the pressure.The maximum rate - about 10 GPa.In the lower layers of the atmosphere are concentrations of water, ammonia and methane.
elements of the internal structure of Neptune:
- upper atmosphere and clouds.
- atmosphere, formed by hydrogen, helium and methane.
- Mantle (methane ice, ammonia, water).
- rock-ice core.
Climatic characteristics
One difference between Neptune to Uranus is the degree of meteorological activity.According to data obtained from the device "Voyager 2" blue giant weather changes frequently and substantially.
managed to identify extremely dynamic storm system with winds that reach speeds of even 600 m / s - nearly supersonic (most of them are blowing in the direction opposite to the rotation around its own axis of Neptune).
In 2007 it was revealed that in the upper troposphere of the planet's south pole ten degrees Celsius warmer than in other parts, where the temperature is about -200 ° C.This difference is enough to make methane from other areas of the upper part of the atmosphere seeped into space in the South Pole.The resulting "hot spot" is a consequence of the axial inclination of the blue giant, the south pole is now forty years of Earth facing the sun.As the slow progress in the orbit of Neptune to the opposite side of this heavenly body the south pole slowly go away completely in shadow.Thus, the Sun Neptune substitute its north pole.Consequently, the release of methane in the area of space will move to this part of the planet.
«Accompanying»
giant Neptune - the planet, having at today's data, eight satellites.Among them, one large, three medium and four small.Let us consider the three biggest.
Triton
It is the largest satellite, which has a giant planet Neptune.It was opened by William Lassell in 1846.Triton is removed from the Neptune 394 700 km, its radius is 1600 km.As expected, it has an atmosphere.The size of the object is close to the moon.According to scientists, the capture of Neptune Triton was an independent planet.
Nereid
's second largest moon of the planet under consideration.On average, it is removed from the Neptune 6.2 million kilometers.Radius Nereid - 100 kilometers, and the diameter - twice.In order to make one orbit around Neptune, that satellite requires 360 days, that is practically a terrestrial year.The discovery of Nereid happened in 1949.
Proteus
This planet is in third place not only in size but also in its distance from Neptune.We can not say that Proteus has some special characteristics, but it was his scientists have chosen to create a three-dimensional interactive model, based on pictures of apparatus "Voyager 2".
remaining satellites are small planets, the solar system, of which a great many.
Features studying
Neptune - a planet which on account of the Sun?Eighth.If you know exactly where this giant, you can see it even in the powerful binoculars.Neptune is quite complicated to study cosmic body.This is partly due to the fact that its luster a little more than an eighth magnitude.For example, one of the aforementioned satellite - Triton - a brilliance equal to fourteen magnitude.In order to detect the disk of Neptune, it is required to apply the large increase.
spacecraft "Voyager 2" was able to achieve such an object, like Neptune.Planet (see photo in the article) took the guest on the Earth in August 1989.Due to data compiled by this ship, scientists have at least some information about this enigmatic object.
Data from "Voyager»
Neptune - the planet, which had a Great Dark Spot in the Southern Hemisphere.This is the most famous part of the object obtained as a result of the spacecraft.According to the diameter of this spot is almost equal to the Earth.Winds of Neptune carries it with tremendous speed of 300 m / s in a westerly direction.
According to observations of HST (Hubble Space Telescope) for the year 1994, the Great Dark Spot has disappeared.It is assumed that he or dissipated or was closed by other parts of the atmosphere.A few months later, thanks to the telescope "Hubble", managed to find a new spot, located in the northern hemisphere.Based on this we can conclude that Neptune - a planet whose atmosphere is changing rapidly - presumably because light fluctuations in temperature of the lower and upper clouds.
Thanks "Voyager 2" is set, that are described object ring.Their existence was revealed in 1981, when one of the stars eclipsed Neptune.Observations from Earth did not bring much result: instead of complete rings were visible only faint arcs.To help came again "Voyager 2".In 1989, the unit had made detailed images of the rings.One of them has an interesting curved structure.
What is known about the magnetosphere
Neptune - a planet's magnetic field which is oriented rather strange.The magnetic axis is inclined at 47 degrees to the axis of rotation.On Earth, it is found to be reflected in the unusual behavior of the compass needle.For example, the North Pole would be located south of Moscow.Another unusual fact is that Neptune's axis of symmetry of the magnetic field does not pass through its center.
Unanswered Questions
- Why are Neptune's winds so strong, while it is very far from the Sun?To carry out these processes internal heat source, which is in the depths of the planet is not strong enough.
- Why the facility there is a lack of hydrogen and helium?
- How to make the development of relatively inexpensive design to the fullest to explore Uranus and Neptune using the spacecraft?
- Due to what processes formed the unusual planet's magnetic field?
Modern research
Create accurate models of Neptune and Uranus, with a view to a visual description of the formation of ice giants proved a daunting task.To explain the evolution of the two planets put forward a considerable number of hypotheses.According to one of them, both giants were due to instability within the protoplanetary disk base, and later they were literally deflated atmosphere radiation big star class B or O.
According to another concept, Neptune and Uranus formed relatively close to the Sun, where the density of matter aboveand when moved to the current orbit.This hypothesis has become the most widespread, since it can help to explain the existing resonances in the Kuiper belt.
observations
Neptune - what planet from the Sun?Eighth.And it is not possible to see with the naked eye.Indicator magnitude giant - between +7.7 and +8.0.Thus, it is fainter than many celestial objects, including the dwarf planet Ceres, Jupiter's moons, and some asteroids.For the organization of high-quality observations of the planet requires a telescope with at least two hundred fold increase in diameter of 200-250 mm.If you have binoculars 7x50 blue giant will be visible as a faint star.
change in angular diameter of the space object under consideration is within 2.2-2.4 arcseconds.This is due to the fact that a very large distance from Earth is the planet Neptune.Facts about the state of the surface of the blue giant mine was extremely difficult.Much has changed with the advent of the space telescope "Hubble" and the most powerful ground-based instruments, equipped with adaptive optics.
Observations of the planet in the radio band revealed that Neptune is the source of irregular nature of outbreaks, as well as continuous radiation.Both phenomena are explained by a rotating magnetic field of blue giant.On a cold background in the infrared region of the spectrum can be clearly seen in the depths of the excitement the planet's atmosphere - the so-called storm.They are generated by the heat from the core shrinking.Through observation, you can most accurately determine their size and shape, as well as track the movement.
mysterious planet Neptune.Interesting facts
- For nearly a century, the giant blue was considered the most distant in the Solar System.Even the discovery of Pluto did not change this belief.Neptune - the planet on which account?Eighth, and not the last, the ninth.Nevertheless, it is sometimes the furthest from our sun.The fact that Pluto has an elongated orbit, which is at times closer to the Sun than the orbit of Neptune.Blue giant managed to regain his status as the most distant planet.And because Pluto moved into the category of dwarf objects.
- Neptune has the smallest size among the four gas giants known.Its equatorial radius is smaller than Uranus, Saturn and Jupiter.
- As with all gas planets, Neptune is not a solid surface.Even if the spacecraft was able to reach him, he could not land.Instead, would be dipping deep into the planet.
- Gravity of Neptune little more earth (17%).Thus, the attractive force acts on both planets is almost the same.
- In order to turn around the sun, Neptune requires 165 Earth years.
- blue saturated color is due to the planet's most powerful lines of a gas such as methane, prevailing in the reflected light of the giant.
Conclusion In the process of space exploration has played a huge role discovery of planets.Neptune and Pluto, as well as other objects were discovered as a result of hard work of many astronomers.Rather, what is now known about the humanity of the universe - only a small part of the real picture.Space - it is a great mystery, and it will have to solve more than one century.
