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Neptune

  • Neptune Discovered

    Neptune Discovered
    After it was noticed that Uranus was orbiting irregularly it was theorized by astronomer and mathematician Urbain Le Verrier that an outside force was exerting gravity on it. After crunching numbers he sent his predictions to Johann Galle and Neptune was first observed through telescope.
  • Triton Discovered

    Triton Discovered
    Seventeen days after Neptune became the first planted found with mathematical calculations it's largest moon, Triton, was first observed through telescope.
  • Nereid Discovered

    Nereid Discovered
    One hundred and three years after the discovery of Neptune's largest moon, Triton, Nereid was first seen via telescope by Gerard Kuiper.
  • Voyager 2 Passes Neptune

    Voyager 2 Passes Neptune
    At 11:50 pm on the 24th of August, Voyager 2 was at it's closest with Neptune.
  • Astronomers at NASA Discover Neptune's Gas Composition

    Astronomers at NASA Discover Neptune's Gas Composition
    After resaerching Neptune from 1995 to 1998 it was discovered that Neptune is 83% hydrogen, 15% helium, and 2% methane which is close to the amount of hydrogen and helium in our star, the Sun.
  • Warm South Pole Discovered on Neptune

    Warm South Pole Discovered on Neptune
    Using a high powered telescope in Chile, a team of NASA astronomers deduced that Neptune's southern pole is much warmer than the rest of the planet. They calculated that Neptune's average temperature is minus 200 degrees Celsius, while this southern pole is 10 degrees Celsius.
  • Neptuinain One Year Anniversery

    Neptuinain One Year Anniversery
    On the 23rd of September in 2011 Neptune completed one Neptunian year, 165 Earth years, since it's discovery.
  • New Neptunian Moon S/2004 N1 Discovered

    New Neptunian Moon S/2004 N1 Discovered
    Whilst looking at pictures taken of Neptune from 2004 - 2009, Mark Showalter noticed a reoccurring dot in the photos while studying Neptune's rings. It was named S/2004 N1 and is the 14th satellite orbiting Neptune.