The structure of Neptune, according to NASA. Authors and pava: NASA.

As a gas giant (or ice giant), Neptune does not have a solid surface. As you know, the blue-green disk that we all saw in NASA photographs is not the surface of the planet. What we see is actually the tops of very deep gas clouds, and if a person tried to stand on one of these peaks, he would simply begin to fall through the gas layers of the planet. During this fall, he would feel a continuous increase in temperature and pressure until he finally got to the "solid" core. This will be the surface, which (as in the case of other gas giants) is defined in astronomy as a point in the atmosphere where the pressure reaches a value of one bar. The surface of Neptune is one of the most active and dynamic places in our entire solar system.

The average radius of the planet is 24,622 ± 19 kilometers, making Neptune the fourth largest planet in the solar system. But with a mass of 1.0243*1026 kilograms - about 17 times the mass of the Earth - it is the third largest planet in our system. Due to smaller size and higher concentrations volatile substances in relation to Jupiter and Saturn, Neptune (like Uranus) is often called an ice giant - one of the subclasses of giant gas planets.

As with Uranus, absorption of red light by methane in the atmosphere causes Neptune to appear blue. Since the amount of methane in the atmosphere of Neptune is almost similar to that of Uranus, there is probably some unknown component that is responsible for more bright color Neptune.

Two main regions can be distinguished in Neptune's atmosphere: the troposphere, where temperature decreases with height; and the stratosphere, where temperature rises with altitude. In the troposphere, the pressure is in the range from one to five bar (100 and 500 kPa), therefore, the “surface” of Neptune is located within this region. Therefore, we can say that the “surface” of Neptune consists of 80% hydrogen and 19% helium. The upper layer of the atmosphere is permeated by moving bands of clouds that have a different composition, depending on altitude and pressure. At the upper level, temperatures are suitable for methane to condense, the clouds here are composed of ammonia, ammonium sulfide, hydrogen sulfide and water.

The image of Neptune on the left was obtained during testing of the adaptive optics of the MUSE instrument installed on the VLT. The image on the right is from the Hubble Space Telescope. Please note that both images were taken in different time. Image Credit & Copyright: ESO / P. Weilbacher, AIP / NASA / ESA / MH Wong & J. Tollefson, UC Berkeley.

For more low levels clouds of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide are also thought to exist. AT lower areas troposphere, where the pressure is about 50 bar (5 MPa) and the temperature is 273 K (0 °C), clouds consisting of water ice should be located.

Since Neptune is not a solid body, its atmosphere undergoes differential rotation. So equatorial zone rotates with a period of about 18 hours, and the period of rotation of the polar regions does not exceed 12 hours. This differential rotation is more pronounced than any other planet in the solar system, and it results in a very strong winds and storms. Three of the most impressive of them were seen in 1989 by the Voyager 2 space probe. The largest storm reached 13,000 kilometers in length and 6,600 kilometers in width, which is comparable to the size of the Great Red Spot on Jupiter. Unfortunately, known as the Great Dark Spot, this storm was not seen five years later when researchers searched for it with the Hubble Space Telescope.

For reasons still unknown to astronomers, Neptune is unusually hot. Despite the fact that this planet is much further from the Sun than Uranus and receives 40% less sunlight, the temperature at its surface is approximately the same as that of Uranus. In fact, Neptune radiates 2.6 times more energy than it receives from the Sun.

Such a large number of internal heat, bordering on the cold of outer space, creates a huge temperature difference. And this causes the appearance of ultra-fast winds on Neptune. Max speed winds on Jupiter can reach 500 km/h. This is twice the speed of most strong hurricanes on the ground. But that's nothing compared to Neptune. Astronomers have calculated that winds on Neptune can reach 2,100 km/h.

Deep inside Neptune may still have a really solid surface, but the temperature in this area will be thousands of degrees, which is enough to melt the rock. Thus, it is not possible to stand on the “surface” of Neptune, let alone walk on it.

In the hustle and bustle of days the world is for ordinary person sometimes reduced to the size of work and home. Meanwhile, if you look at the sky, you can see how insignificant it is. Maybe that's why young romantics dream of devoting themselves to conquering space and studying the stars. Scientists-astronomers do not forget for a second that, in addition to the Earth with its problems and joys, there are many other distant and mysterious objects. One of them is the planet Neptune, the eighth in terms of distance from the Sun, inaccessible to direct observation and therefore doubly attractive to researchers.

How it all began

Back in the middle of the 19th century, the solar system, according to scientists, contained only seven planets. Earth's neighbors, near and far, have been studied using all available advances in technology and computing. Many characteristics were first described theoretically, and only then found practical confirmation. With the calculation of the orbit of Uranus, the situation was somewhat different. Thomas John Hussey, an astronomer and priest, discovered a discrepancy between the real trajectory of the planet's supposed movement. There could be only one conclusion: there is an object that affects the orbit of Uranus. In fact, this was the first report of the planet Neptune.

Almost ten years later (in 1843), two researchers simultaneously calculated in what orbit the planet could move, forcing the gas giant to make room. These were the Englishman John Adams and the Frenchman Urbain Jean Joseph Le Verrier. Independently of each other, but with different accuracy, they determined the path of movement of the body.

Detection and designation

Neptune was found in the night sky by astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle, to whom Le Verrier came with his calculations. The French scientist, who later shared the glory of the discoverer with Galle and Adams, made a mistake in the calculations by only a degree. Neptune officially appeared in scientific papers September 23, 1846.

Initially, the planet was proposed to be called by a name, but such a designation did not take root. Astronomers were more inspired by the comparison of the new object with the king of the seas and oceans, as alien to the earth's firmament as, apparently, and open planet. The name of Neptune was proposed by Le Verrier and supported by V. Ya. Struve, who headed the name, it only remained to understand what the composition of Neptune's atmosphere is, whether it exists at all, what is hidden in its depths, and so on.

Compared to earth

A lot of time has passed since the opening. Today we know much more about the eighth planet of the solar system. Neptune is much larger than the Earth in size: its diameter is almost 4 times larger, and its mass is 17 times. A considerable distance from the Sun leaves no doubt that the weather on the planet Neptune is also significantly different from the earth. There is no and cannot be life here. It's not even about the wind or any unusual phenomena. The atmosphere and surface of Neptune are almost the same structure. it salient feature all gas giants, including this planet.

imaginary surface

The planet is significantly inferior in density to the Earth (1.64 g / cm³), making it difficult to step on its surface. Yes, and as such it is not. It was agreed to identify the surface level by the magnitude of the pressure: a pliable and rather liquid-like "solid" is located in the lower ones where the pressure is equal to one bar, and, in fact, is part of it. Any report of the planet Neptune as a cosmic object of a specific size is based on such a definition of the imaginary surface of the giant.

The parameters obtained with this feature in mind are as follows:

the diameter near the equator is 49.5 thousand km;

its size in the plane of the poles is almost 48.7 thousand km.

The ratio of these characteristics makes Neptune far from a circle in shape. It, like the Blue Planet, is somewhat flattened at the poles.

The composition of the atmosphere of Neptune

The mixture of gases enveloping the planet is very different in content from the earth's. The overwhelming majority is hydrogen (80%), the second position is occupied by helium. This inert gas makes a significant contribution to the composition of the atmosphere of Neptune - 19%. Methane is less than a percent, ammonia is also found here, but in small quantities.

Oddly enough, one percent of methane in the composition greatly affects what kind of atmosphere Neptune has and what the entire gas giant looks like from the point of view of an external observer. it chemical compound makes up the clouds of the planet and does not reflect light waves corresponding to red. As a result, for those passing by, Neptune turns out to be painted in rich blue. This color is one of the mysteries of the planet. Scientists do not yet fully know what exactly leads to the absorption of the red part of the spectrum.

All gas giants have an atmosphere. It is the color that distinguishes Neptune among them. Due to these characteristics, it is called an ice planet. Frozen methane, which by its existence adds weight to the comparison of Neptune with an iceberg, is also part of the mantle surrounding the planet's core.

Internal structure

The core of the space object contains iron, nickel, magnesium and silicon compounds. In terms of mass, the core is approximately equal to the entire Earth. However, unlike other elements internal structure, it has a density that is twice that of the Blue Planet.

The core is covered, as already mentioned, by the mantle. Its composition is in many ways similar to atmospheric: ammonia, methane, water are present here. The mass of the layer is equal to fifteen Earth's, while it is strongly heated (up to 5000 K). The mantle does not have a clear boundary, and the atmosphere of the planet Neptune smoothly flows into it. The mixture of helium and hydrogen is upper part in structure. The smooth transformation of one element into another and the blurred boundaries between them are properties that are characteristic of all gas giants.

Research difficulties

Conclusions about what kind of atmosphere Neptune has, which is typical for its structure, are largely made on the basis of already obtained data on Uranus, Jupiter and Saturn. The remoteness of the planet from the Earth greatly complicates its study.

In 1989, he flew near Neptune spacecraft Voyager 2. This was the only meeting with the earthly messenger. Its fruitfulness, however, is obvious: most It was this ship that provided information about Neptune to science. In particular, Voyager 2 discovered the Large and Small dark spots. Both blackened areas were clearly visible against the background of the blue atmosphere. To date, it is not clear what the nature of these formations is, but it is assumed that these are eddy currents or cyclones. They appear in the upper atmosphere and sweep around the planet at great speed.

Perpetual motion

Many parameters determine the presence of the atmosphere. Neptune is characterized not only by its unusual color, but also by the constant movement created by the wind. The speed at which clouds circle the planet around the equator exceeds a thousand kilometers per hour. At the same time, they move in the direction opposite to the rotation of Neptune itself around the axis. At the same time, the planet turns even faster: a complete rotation takes only 16 hours and 7 minutes. For comparison: one revolution around the Sun takes almost 165 years.

Another mystery: the wind speed in the atmosphere of gas giants increases with distance from the Sun and reaches a peak on Neptune. This phenomenon has not yet been substantiated, as well as some of the temperature features of the planet.

Heat distribution

The weather on the planet Neptune is characterized by a gradual change in temperature depending on the altitude. That layer of the atmosphere, where the conditional surface is located, fully corresponds to the second name ( ice planet). The temperature here drops to almost -200 ºC. If you move from the surface higher, then there will be a noticeable increase in heat up to 475º. Scientists have not yet found a worthy explanation for such differences. Neptune is believed to have internal source heat. Such a “heater” should produce twice as much energy as it comes to the planet from the Sun. The heat from this source, combined with the energy coming here from our star, is probably the cause of strong winds.

However, neither sunlight nor an internal "heater" can raise the temperature on the surface so that the change of seasons is felt here. And although other conditions for this are observed, it is impossible to distinguish winter from summer on Neptune.

Magnetosphere

The Voyager 2 exploration helped scientists learn a lot about Neptune's magnetic field. It is very different from the Earth's one: the source is located not in the core, but in the mantle, due to which the planet's magnetic axis is strongly displaced relative to its center.

One of the functions of the field is protection from the solar wind. The shape of Neptune's magnetosphere is highly elongated: the protective lines in that part of the planet that is illuminated are located at a distance of 600 thousand km from the surface, and on the opposite side - more than 2 million km.

Voyager recorded the inconsistency of the field strength and the location of the magnetic lines. Such properties of the planet are also not yet fully explained by science.

Rings

AT late XIX century, when scientists were no longer looking for an answer to the question of whether there is an atmosphere on Neptune, another task arose before them. It was necessary to explain why, along the path of the eighth planet, the stars began to go out for the observer a little earlier than Neptune approached them.

The problem was solved only after almost a century. In 1984, with the help of a powerful telescope, it was possible to examine the brightest ring of the planet, later named after one of the discoverers of Neptune, John Adams.

Further research found several more similar formations. It was they who closed the stars along the path of the planet. Today, astronomers consider Neptune to have six rings. They contain another mystery. The Adams ring consists of several arches located at some distance from each other. The reason for this placement is unclear. Some researchers are inclined to think that the force of the gravitational field of one of Neptune's satellites, Galatea, keeps them in this position. Others give a weighty counterargument: its size is so small that it would hardly have coped with the task. Perhaps there are several more unknown satellites nearby helping Galatea.

In general, the rings of the planet are a spectacle, inferior in impressiveness and beauty to similar formations of Saturn. Not the last role in a somewhat dim appearance composition plays. The rings mainly contain blocks of methane ice coated with silicon compounds that absorb light well.

satellites

Neptune is the owner (according to the latest data) of 13 satellites. Most of them are small in size. Only Triton has outstanding parameters, which is only slightly inferior in diameter to the Moon. The composition of the atmosphere of Neptune and Triton is different: the satellite has a gas envelope of a mixture of nitrogen and methane. These substances give very interesting view planet: frozen nitrogen with inclusions from methane ice creates a real riot of colors on the surface in the South Pole region: overflows of yellow are combined with white and pink.

The fate of the handsome Triton, meanwhile, is not so rosy. Scientists predict it will collide with Neptune and be swallowed up by it. As a result, the eighth planet will become the owner of a new ring, comparable in brightness to the formations of Saturn and even ahead of them. The remaining satellites of Neptune are significantly inferior to Triton, some of them do not even have a name yet.

The eighth planet of the solar system largely corresponds to its name, the choice of which was also affected by the presence of the atmosphere - Neptune. Its composition contributes to the appearance of a characteristic blue color. Neptune rushes through space incomprehensible to us, like the god of the seas. And likewise ocean depths that part of the cosmos that begins beyond Neptune keeps a lot of secrets from man. Scientists of the future have yet to discover them.

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Detail:

Planet Neptune

General information about Neptune

© Vladimir Kalanov,
website"Knowledge is power".

After the discovery of Uranus in 1781, astronomers for a long time could not explain the reasons for the deviations in the movement of this planet in orbit from those parameters that were determined by the laws of planetary motion discovered by Johannes Kepler. It was assumed that beyond the orbit of Uranus there may be another major planet. But the correctness of such an assumption had to be proved, for which it was necessary to perform complex calculations.

Neptune from a distance of 4.4 million km.

Neptune. Photo in conditional colors.

Discovery of Neptune

Discovery of Neptune "at the tip of a pen"

Since ancient times, people have known about the existence of five planets that are visible to the naked eye: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.

And so the talented English mathematician John Couch Adams (1819-1892), who had just graduated from St. John's College in Cambridge, in 1844-1845 calculated the approximate mass of the transuranium planet, the elements of its elliptical orbit and heliocentric longitude. Subsequently, Adams became a professor of astronomy and geometry at the University of Cambridge.

Adams based his calculations on the assumption that the desired planet should be at a distance of 38.4 astronomical units from the Sun. This distance Adams suggested the so-called Titius-Bode rule, which establishes the procedure for the approximate calculation of the distance of the planets from the Sun. In the future, we will try to talk about this rule in more detail.

Adams presented his calculations to the head of the Greenwich Observatory, but they were ignored.

A few months later, independently of Adams, the French astronomer Urbain Jean Joseph Le Verrier (1811-1877) also made the calculations and submitted them to the Greenwich Observatory. Here they immediately remembered Adams' calculations, and since 1846 an observation program was launched at the Cambridge Observatory, but it did not give results.

In the summer of 1846, Le Verrier made a more detailed report at the Paris Observatory, introduced his colleagues to his calculations, which were the same and even more accurate than those of Adams. But French astronomers, appreciating the mathematical skill of Le Verrier, did not show much interest in the problem of finding a transuranium planet. This could not but disappoint Master Le Verrier, and on September 18, 1846, he sent a letter to the assistant of the Berlin Observatory, Johann Gottfried Galle (1812-1910), in which, in particular, he wrote: “... Take the trouble to direct the telescope to the constellation Aquarius. You will find a planet of the ninth magnitude within 1° of the ecliptic at longitude 326°…”

Discovery of Neptune in the sky

On September 23, 1846, immediately after receiving the letter, Johann Galle and his assistant, senior student Heinrich d'Arre, directed a telescope to the constellation Aquarius and discovered a new, eighth planet almost exactly in the place indicated by Le Verrier.

The Paris Academy of Sciences soon announced that a new planet "on the tip of a pen" was discovered by Urbain Le Verrier. The British tried to protest and demanded that John Adams be recognized as the discoverer of the planet.

To whom was the opening priority given - England or France? The opening priority was given to … Germany. Modern encyclopedic reference books indicate that the planet Neptune was discovered in 1846 by Johann Galle according to the theoretical predictions of W.Zh. Le Verrier and J.K. Adams.

It seems to us that European science has acted fairly in this matter in relation to all three scientists: Halle, Le Verrier and Adams. The name of Heinrich d'Arre, who was then an assistant to Johann Galle, also remained in the history of science. Although, of course, the work of Halle and his assistant in terms of volume and intensity was much less than that done by Adams and Le Verrier, who performed complex mathematical calculations, which many mathematicians of that time did not undertake, considering the problem unsolvable.

The discovered planet was called Neptune by the name of the ancient Roman god of the seas (the ancient Greeks had Poseidon in the "position" of the god of the seas). The name of Neptune was chosen, of course, according to tradition, but it turned out to be quite successful in the sense that the surface of the planet resembles the blue sea, where Neptune is in charge. By the way, it became possible to definitely judge the color of the planet only almost a century and a half after its discovery, when in August 1989 the American spacecraft, having completed a research program near Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus, flew over north pole Neptune at an altitude of only 4500 km and transmitted images of this planet to Earth. Voyager 2 remains the only spacecraft so far sent in the vicinity of Neptune. True, some external information about Neptune was also obtained with the help of, although it is in near-Earth orbit, i.e. in nearby space.

The planet Neptune could well have been discovered by Galileo, who noticed it, but mistook it for unusual star. Since then, for almost two hundred years, until 1846, one of the giant planets of the solar system remained in obscurity.

General information about Neptune

Neptune, the eighth planet in terms of distance from the Sun, is approximately 4.5 billion kilometers (30 AU) away from the star (min. 4.456, max. 4.537 billion km).

Neptune, like Neptune, belongs to the group of gaseous giant planets. The diameter of its equator is 49528 km, which is almost four times larger than the Earth's (12756 km). The period of rotation around its axis is 16 hours 06 minutes. The period of revolution around the Sun i.e. The length of a year on Neptune is almost 165 Earth years. The volume of Neptune is 57.7 times the volume of the Earth, and the mass is 17.1 times that of the earth. The average density of matter is 1.64 (g/cm³), which is noticeably higher than on Uranus (1.29 (g/cm³)), but significantly less than on Earth (5.5 (g/cm³)). The force of gravity on Neptune is almost one and a half times that of the earth.

From ancient times until 1781, people considered Saturn to be the most distant planet. Discovered in 1781, Uranus "pushed" the boundaries of the solar system by half (from 1.5 billion km to 3 billion km).

But after 65 years (1846) Neptune was discovered, and he "pushed" the boundaries of the solar system by another one and a half times, i.e. up to 4.5 billion km in all directions from the Sun.

As we shall see later, this did not become the limit for the space occupied by our solar system. 84 years after the discovery of Neptune, in March 1930, the American Clyde Tombaugh discovered another planet - revolving around the Sun at an average distance of about 6 billion km from it.

True, the International Astronomical Union in 2006 deprived Pluto of the "title" of the planet. According to scientists, Pluto turned out to be too small for such a title, and therefore was transferred to the category of dwarfs. But this does not change the essence of the matter - all the same, Pluto, as a cosmic body, is part of the solar system. And no one can guarantee that there is no more beyond the orbit of Pluto space bodies, which could enter the solar system as planets. In any case, beyond the orbit of Pluto, the space is filled with a variety of space objects, which is confirmed by the presence of the so-called Edgeworth-Kuiper belt, which extends to 30-100 AU. We will talk about this belt a little later (see on "Knowledge is Power").

Atmosphere and surface of Neptune

Atmosphere of Neptune

Cloud relief of Neptune

The atmosphere of Neptune consists mainly of hydrogen, helium, methane and ammonia. Methane absorbs the red part of the spectrum and transmits blue and green colors. Therefore, the color of the surface of Neptune appears greenish-blue.

The composition of the atmosphere is as follows:

Main components: hydrogen (H 2) 80 ± 3.2%; helium (He) 19±3.2%; methane (CH 4) 1.5 ± 0.5%.
Impurity components: acetylene (C 2 H 2), diacetylene (C 4 H 2), ethylene (C 2 H 4) and ethane (C 2 H 6), as well as carbon monoxide (CO) and molecular nitrogen (N 2);
Aerosols: ammonia ice, water ice, ammonium hydrosulfide (NH 4 SH) ice, methane ice (? - questionable).

Temperature: at 1 bar: 72 K (-201 °C);
at a pressure level of 0.1 bar: 55 K (–218 °C).

Starting from an altitude of about 50 km from the surface layers of the atmosphere and further to an altitude of several thousand kilometers, the planet is covered with silvery cirrus clouds, consisting mainly of frozen methane (see photo at top right). Among the clouds, formations are observed that resemble cyclone eddies of the atmosphere, just as it takes place on Jupiter. Such swirls look like spots and periodically appear and disappear.

The atmosphere gradually turns into a liquid, and then solid planets, as expected, consisting mainly of the same substances - hydrogen, helium, methane.

The atmosphere of Neptune is very active: very strong winds blow on the planet. strong winds. If we called the winds on Uranus with a speed of up to 600 km/h hurricanes, then how to call the winds on Neptune that blow at a speed of 1000 km/h? There are no stronger winds on any other planet in the solar system.

Neptune is the eighth planet in our solar system. Scientists discovered it very first on the basis of constant observations of the sky and deep mathematical research. Urbain Joseph Le Verrier, after lengthy discussions, shared his observations with the Berlin Observatory, where they were studied by Johann Gottfried Galle. It was there that on September 23, 1846, Neptune was discovered. Seventeen days later, his satellite, Triton, was also found.

The planet Neptune is located at a distance of 4.5 billion km from the Sun. For 165 years, it passes its orbit. It cannot be seen with the naked eye, as it is located at a significant distance from the Earth.

In the atmosphere of Neptune, the strongest winds reign, according to some scientists, they can reach speeds of 2100 km / h. In 1989, during the Voyager 2 flyby southern hemisphere planet was identified as a Great Dark Spot, exactly the same as the Great Red Spot on the planet Jupiter. In the upper atmosphere, the temperature of Neptune is close to 220 degrees Celsius. The temperature at the center of Neptune ranges from 5400°K to 7000-7100°C, which corresponds to the temperature on the surface of the Sun and the internal temperature of most planets. Neptune has a fragmented and faint ring system that was discovered back in the 1960s but officially confirmed in 1989 by Voyager 2.

History of the discovery of the planet Neptune

On December 28, 1612, Galileo Galilei explored Neptune, and then on January 29, 1613. But in both cases, he mistook Neptune for a fixed star that conjoined Jupiter in the sky. That is why the discovery of Neptune was not appropriated by Galileo.

In December 1612, during the first observation, Neptune is at the point of standing, and on the day of observation, he switched to backward movement. Retrograde movement is traced when our planet overtakes outer planet along its axis. Since Neptune was close to the station, its movement was too weak, and Galileo could not see it with his small telescope.

Alexis Bouvard in 1821 demonstrated astronomical tables of the orbit of the planet Uranus. Later observations showed strong deviations from the tables he created. Given this circumstance, the scientist suggested that an unknown body perturbs the orbit of Uranus with its gravity. He sent his calculations to the Astronomer Royal, Sir George Airy, who asked Cook for clarification. He had already begun drafting an answer, but for some reason did not send it and did not insist on working on this issue.

In 1845-1846, Urbain Le Verrier, independently of Adams, quickly carried out his calculations, but his compatriots did not share his enthusiasm. After reviewing Le Verrier's first estimate of Neptune's longitude and its similarity to Adams' estimate, Airy was able to convince James Chiles, director of the Cambridge Observatory, to begin the search, which lasted from August to September. Twice Chiles actually observed Neptune, but as a result of the fact that he delayed processing the results for more late deadline, he failed to identify the planet in a timely manner.

At this time, Le Verrier convinced the astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle, who works at the Berlin Observatory, to start looking. Heinrich d'Arre, a student at the observatory, suggested that Halle compare the map of the sky drawn in the region of Le Verrier's predicted location with the view of the sky at this moment to observe the movement of the planet relative to the fixed stars. On the first night, the planet was discovered after approximately 1 hour of searching. Johann Encke, together with the director of the observatory, continued to observe the part of the sky where the planet was located for 2 nights, as a result of which they discovered its movement relative to the stars and were able to make sure that it was in fact new planet. On September 23, 1846, Neptune was discovered. It is within 1° of Le Verrier's coordinates and approximately 12° of the coordinates predicted by Adams.

Immediately after the discovery, a dispute followed between the French and the British for the right to consider the discovery of the planet as their own. As a result, they reached a consensus and decided to consider Le Verrier and Adams as co-discoverers. In 1998, the “Neptune papers” were once again found, which were illegally appropriated to astronomer Olin J. Eggen and kept with him for thirty years. After his death, they were found in his possession. Some historians, after reviewing the documents, believe that Adams does not deserve equal rights with Le Verrier to discover the planet. In principle, this has been questioned before, for example, since 1966 by Dennis Rawlins. In Dio magazine, he published an article demanding that Adams' equal rights to discovery be recognized as theft. “Yes, Adams did some calculations, but he was somewhat unsure where Neptune was,” Nicholas Kollestrum said in 2003.

Origin of the name Neptune

For a certain time after the discovery, the planet Neptune was designated as the "planet of Le Verrier" or as "the outer planet from Uranus." Halle was the first to propose the idea of ​​an official name, suggesting the name "Janus". Chiles in England suggested the name "Ocean".

Le Verrier, claiming that he had the right to give a name, proposed to call it Neptune, mistakenly believing that this name was recognized by the French bureau of longitudes. The scientist tried to name the planet in October after his own name "Leverrier" and was supported by the director of the observatory, but this initiative ran into resistance outside of France. Almanacs quickly returned the name Herschel (after William Herschel, the discoverer) for Uranus and Le Verrier for the new planet.

But, despite this, Vasily Struve, director of the Pulkovo Observatory, will stop at the name "Neptune". He announced his decision at the congress of the Imperial Academy of Sciences on December 29, 1846, which took place in St. Petersburg. This name received support beyond the borders of Russia and very soon became accepted. international name planets.

physical characteristics

Neptune has a mass of 1.0243 × 1026 kg and protrudes intermediate between the large gas giants and the Earth. His weight is seventeen times more earth and 1/19 of the mass of Jupiter. As for the equatorial radius of Neptune, it corresponds to 24,764 km, which is almost four times the earth's. Uranus and Neptune are often classified as gas giants ("ice giants") due to their high concentrations of volatiles and their smaller size.

Internal structure

It is immediately worth noting that internal structure The planet Neptune is similar to the structure of Uranus. The atmosphere is approximately 10-20% of the total mass of the planet, the distance from the surface to the atmosphere is 10-20% of the distance from the surface of the planet to the core. The pressure near the core can be 10 GPa. Concentrations of ammonia, methane and water are found in the lower atmosphere.

This hotter and darker region gradually condenses into a superheated liquid mantle, the temperature of which reaches 2000 - 5000 K. The weight of the planet's mantle exceeds the Earth's by ten to fifteen times, according to various estimates, it is rich in ammonia, water, methane and other compounds. This matter, according to generally accepted terminology, is called icy, even though it is a dense and very hot liquid. This liquid, which has a high electrical conductivity, is often called the ocean of aqueous ammonia. Methane at a depth of 7 thousand km decomposes into diamond crystals, "falling" on the core. Scientists have hypothesized that there is a whole ocean of "diamond liquid". The core of the planet is composed of nickel, iron and silicates and weighs 1.2 times more than our planet. In the center, the pressure reaches 7 megabars, which is millions of times greater than that of the Earth. In the center, the temperature reaches 5400 K.

Atmosphere of Neptune

Scientists have discovered helium and a waterfall in the upper atmosphere. At this height, they are 19% and 80%. In addition, traces of methane are traced. Methane absorption bands are traced at wavelengths exceeding 600 nm in the infrared and red parts of the spectrum. As with Uranus, the absorption of red light by methane is key factor giving blue tint Neptune, although the bright azure is different from the mild aquamarine of Uranus. Since the percentage of methane in the atmosphere is not much different from that in the atmosphere of Uranus, scientists suggest that there is some unknown component of the atmosphere that contributes to the formation of blue color. The atmosphere is divided into two main regions, namely the lower troposphere, in which there is a decrease in temperature with height, and the stratosphere, where another pattern is observed - the temperature increases with height. The tropopause boundary (located between them) is located at a pressure level of 0.1 bar. At a pressure level below 10-4 - 10-5 microbars, the stratosphere is replaced by the thermosphere. Gradually, the thermosphere passes into the exosphere. Models of the troposphere allow us to assume that, taking into account the height, it consists of clouds of approximate compositions. In the pressure zone below 1 bar there are clouds of the upper level, where the temperature is conducive to methane condensation.

Clouds of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia form at pressures between 1 and 5 bar. At higher pressure clouds can be composed of ammonium sulfide, ammonia, water, and hydrogen sulfide. Deeper, at a pressure of about 50 bar, clouds of water ice can form, in the case of a temperature of 0 °C. Scientists suggest that this zone may contain clouds of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. In addition, it is possible that clouds of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia can be found in this zone.

For such a low temperature, Neptune is too far from the Sun for it to warm up the thermosphere with UV radiation. It is possible that this phenomenon is a consequence of atmospheric interaction with ions located in the planet's magnetic field. Another theory says that the main heating mechanism is gravity waves from the inner regions of Neptune, which subsequently dissipate in the atmosphere. The thermosphere includes traces carbon monoxide and the water that got there from external sources(dust and meteorites).

Climate of Neptune

It is from the differences between Uranus and Neptune - the level of meteorological activity. Voyager 2, which flew near uranium in 1986, recorded weak atmospheric activity. Neptune, in contrast to Uranus, showed clear weather changes when the survey was taken in 1989.

The weather on the planet is different serious dynamic system storms. Moreover, the wind speed can sometimes reach about 600 m/s (supersonic speed). In the course of tracking the movement of clouds, a change in wind speed was noticed. Eastward from 20 m/s; on the western - to 325 m / s. As for the upper cloud layer, here the wind speed also varies: along the equator from 400 m/s; at the poles - up to 250 m/s. At the same time, most winds give a direction that is opposite to the rotation of Neptune around its axis. The diagram of the winds shows that their direction at high latitudes coincides with the direction of rotation of the planet, and at low latitudes completely opposite to it. The difference in the direction of the winds, as scientists believe, is a consequence of the “screen effect” and is not associated with deep atmospheric processes. The content of ethane, methane and acetylene in the atmosphere in the equatorial region is tens or even hundreds of times higher than the content of these substances in the region of the poles. Such an observation gives reason to believe that upwelling exists at Neptune's equator and closer to the poles. In 2007, scientists noticed that the upper troposphere south pole the planet was 10 °C warmer compared to the rest of Neptune, where the average temperature is -200 °C. Moreover, such a difference is quite enough for methane in other areas of the upper atmosphere to be in a frozen form, gradually leaking into space at the south pole.

Because of seasonal changes cloud bands in the southern hemisphere of the planet increased in albedo and size. This trend was traced back in 1980, according to experts, it will last until 2020 with the onset of a new season on the planet, which changes every forty years.

Moons of Neptune

Currently, Neptune has thirteen known moons. The largest of them weighs more than 99.5% of total weight all satellites of the planet. This is Triton, which was discovered by William Lassell seventeen days after the discovery of the planet itself. Triton, unlike other large satellites in our solar system, has a retrograde orbit. It is possible that it was captured by Neptune's gravity, and may have been a dwarf planet in the past. It is at a small distance from Neptune to be fixed in synchronous rotation. Triton, due to tidal acceleration, slowly spirals towards the planet and as a result, when the Roche limit is reached, it will be destroyed. As a result, a ring is formed that will be more powerful than the rings of Saturn. It is assumed that this will happen after a period of 10 to 100 million years.

Triton is one of 3 satellites that have an atmosphere (along with Titan and Io). The possibility of the existence of a liquid ocean under the ice crust of Triton, similar to the ocean of Europa, is pointed out.

The next discovered satellite of Neptune was Nereid. It has an irregular shape and is one of the highest orbital eccentricities.

Between July and September 1989, six more new satellites were discovered. Among them, it is worth noting Proteus, which has an irregular shape and high density.

The four inner moons are Thalassa, Naiad, Galatea and Despina. Their orbits are so close to the planet that they are within its rings. Larissa, following them, was first discovered in 1981.

Between 2002 and 2003, five more irregular moons of Neptune were discovered. Since Neptune was considered the Roman god of the seas, his moons were named after other sea creatures.

Watching Neptune

It's no secret that Neptune is not visible from Earth to the naked eye. The dwarf planet Ceres, the Galilean moons of Jupiter, and the asteroids 2 Pallas, 4 Vesta, 3 Juno, 7 Iris, and 6 Hebe appear brighter in the sky. To observe the planet, you need a telescope with a magnification of 200x and a diameter of at least 200-250 mm. In this case, you can see the planet as a small bluish disk, reminiscent of Uranus.

Every 367 days, for an earthly observer, the planet Neptune enters into an apparent retrograde movement, forming certain imaginary loops against the background of other stars during each opposition.

Observation of the planet in the radio wave range shows that Neptune is a source of irregular flashes and continuous radiation. Both phenomena are explained by a rotating magnetic field. In the infrared part of the spectrum, Neptune's storms are well traced. You can set their size and shape, as well as accurately track their movement.

NASA plans to launch the Neptune Orbiter to Neptune in 2016. To date, no exact dates the launch is not officially called, this device is not included in the plan for exploring the solar system.

Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun. It closes the group of planets known as gas giants.

The history of the discovery of the planet.

Neptune was the first planet whose existence astronomers knew even before they saw it through a telescope.

The uneven movement of Uranus in its orbit led astronomers to believe that the reason for this behavior of the planet is the gravitational influence of another celestial body. Having carried out the necessary mathematical calculations, Johann Galle and Heinrich d'Arre at the Berlin Observatory discovered a distant blue planet September 23, 1846.

It is very difficult to accurately answer the question thanks to whom Neptune was found. Many astronomers have worked in this direction and disputes about this are still ongoing.

10 things you need to know about Neptune!

1. Neptune is the most distant planet in the solar system and occupies the eighth orbit from the Sun;
2. Mathematicians were the first to know about the existence of Neptune;
   
3. There are 14 moons circling Neptune;
4. The orbit of Nepputna is removed from the Sun by an average of 30 AU;
5. One day on Neptune lasts 16 Earth hours;
6. Neptune has only been visited by one spacecraft, Voyager 2;
7. Around Neptune there is a system of rings;
8. Neptune has the second highest gravity after Jupiter;
9. One year on Neptune lasts 164 Earth years;
10. The atmosphere on Neptune is extremely active;

Astronomical characteristics

The meaning of the name of the planet Neptune

Like other planets, Neptune gets its name from Greek and Roman mythology. The name Neptune, after the Roman god of the sea, fits the planet surprisingly well because of its gorgeous blue hue.

Physical characteristics of Neptune

Rings and satellites

There are 14 known moons revolving around Neptune, named after lesser sea deities and nymphs from Greek mythology. The planet's largest moon is Triton. It was discovered by William Lassell on October 10, 1846, just 17 days after the discovery of the planet.

Triton is the only spherical moon of Neptune. The remaining 13 known satellites of the planet have an irregular shape. In addition to its correct shape, Triton is known for having a retrograde orbit around Neptune (the direction of rotation of the satellite is opposite to Neptune's rotation around the Sun). This gives astronomers reason to believe that Triton was gravitationally captured by Neptune rather than formed with the planet. Also, recent studies of the Neputna system have shown a constant decrease in the height of Triton's orbit around the parent planet. This means that in millions of years, Triton will fall on Neptune or be completely destroyed by the powerful tidal forces of the planet.

Near Neptune there is also a system of rings. However, studies show that they are relatively young and very unstable.

Planet Features

Neptune is extremely far from the Sun, therefore it is invisible to the naked eye from Earth. The average distance from our star is about 4.5 billion kilometers. And because of its slow movement in orbit, one year on the planet lasts 165 Earth years.

Main axle magnetic field Neptune, as well as Uranus, is strongly inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the planet and is about 47 degrees. However, this did not affect its power, which is 27 times greater than that of the Earth.

Despite the great distance from the Sun and, as a result, less energy from the star, the winds on Neptune are three times stronger than on Jupiter and nine times stronger than on Earth.

In 1989, the Voyager 2 spacecraft, flying near the Neptune system, saw a large storm in its atmosphere. This hurricane, like the Great Red Spot on Jupiter, was large enough to contain the Earth. The speed of his movement was also huge and amounted to about 1200 kilometers per hour. However, such atmospheric phenomena not as long as on Jupiter. Subsequent observations by the Hubble Space Telescope found no evidence of this storm.

planetary atmosphere

The atmosphere of Neptune is not much different from other gas giants. Basically, it consists of two components of hydrogen and helium with small impurities of methane and various ices.

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