Neptune’s Moon of Triton

The planets of the outer Solar System are known for being strange, as are their many moons. This is especially true of Triton, Neptune’s largest moon. In addition to being the seventh-largest moon in the Solar System, it is also the only major moon that has a retrograde orbit – i.e. it revolves in the direction opposite to the planet’s rotation. This suggests that Triton did not form in orbit around Neptune, but is a cosmic visitor that passed by one day and decided to stay.

Triton has a radius, density (2.061 g/cm3), temperature and chemical composition similar to thatof Pluto. Because of this, and the fact that it circles Neptune in a retrograde orbit, astronomers believe that the moon originated in the Kuiper Belt and later became trapped by Neptune’s gravity.

Another theory has it that Triton was once a dwarf planet with a companion. In this scenario, Neptune captured Triton and flung its companion away when the giant gas moved further out into the solar system, billions of years ago.

Also like Pluto, 55% of Triton’s surface is covered with frozen nitrogen, with water ice comprising 15–35% and dry ice (aka. frozen carbon dioxide) forming the remaining 10–20%. Trace amounts of methane and carbon monoxide ice are believed to exist there as well, as are small amounts of ammonia (in the form of ammonia dihydrate in the lithosphere).

1 posted on 07/28/2015 11:52:43 AM PDT by BenLurkin

Global Color Mosaic of Triton, taken by the Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1989. Credit: NASA/JPL/USGS

2 posted on 07/28/2015 11:54:03 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)

ping

3 posted on 07/28/2015 12:31:33 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)

I plan on taking a look at Neptune this fall when it comes up at a reasonable hour. Hope to get a peak at Triton while at it.

4 posted on 07/28/2015 12:39:19 PM PDT by Conan the Librarian (The Best in Life is to crush my enemies, see them driven before me, and the Dewey Decimal System)

To: BenLurkin; brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...

5 posted on 07/28/2015 3:14:33 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (What do we want? REGIME CHANGE! When do we want it? NOW)

To: BenLurkin; Red Badger; KevinDavis; annie laurie; Knitting A Conundrum; Viking2002; ...

This topic was posted 7/28/2015, thanks BenLurkin.



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6 posted on 03/06/2021 2:35:48 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)

To: BenLurkin; Red Badger; 75thOVI; Abathar; agrace; aimhigh; Alice in Wonderland; AnalogReigns; ...

This topic was posted 7/28/2015, thanks BenLurkin.

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7 posted on 03/06/2021 2:35:55 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)

8 posted on 03/06/2021 2:38:30 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)

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