Neptune was the first planet to be discovered through mathematical calculations!
In 1821, Alex Bouvard, a French astronomer predicted that the gravitation pull of an unknown celestial body was responsible for the planet Uranus’ orbital irregularities.
In 1846, Urbain Joseph Le Verrier, a French mathematician calculated the location of the planet Uranus. He sent his prediction to Johann Gottfried Galle.
In 1846, Johann Gottfried Galle found the planet using a telescope at the Berlin Observatory.
Fact About Planet Neptune
Neptune is the last planet from the sun. It is the 8th planet from the sun. It is nearly 4.5 billion kilometers (2.8 billion miles) from the Sun.
There are two ice giant planets, they are Uranus & Neptune. Neptune is the smallest ice-giant planet.
The average surface temperature of planet Neptune is 214°C (-353°F). Hence, it is the coldest planet in the solar system.
Its atmosphere contains methane, which absorbs red light, giving a beautiful blue hue to the planet. Hence, Neptune appears blue color.
Neptune rotates quickly. It doesn’t have a solid body so it spins quickly. It takes 16.03 hrs. to complete one rotation.
The wind speed can reach up to 2,100 km/hour (1,200 miles/hour). Therefore, Neptune has a windy atmosphere.
Neptune has five main planetary rings. The rings are not uniform and it is faint. The names of the rings are: Adams, Arago, Galle, Lassell, and Le Verrier
Neptune has 14 moons. Triton is the largest moon on the planet, Neptune. The other moons are: Despina, Galatea, Halimede, Laomedeia, Larissa, Naiad, Nereid, Neso, Proteus, Psamathe, S/2004N1, Sao and Thalassa.
Planet Neptune Statistics
| Mass | 102×1024 kg |
| Diameter | 49,528 km |
| Density | 1,638 kg/m3 |
| Gravity | 11 m/s2 |
| A tilt of Axis | 29.6º |
| Mean Temperature | -200ºC |
| Distance from the Sun | 4495.1×106 km |
| Rotation Period | 16.03 hrs. |
| Revolution | 164.79 Earth years |
| Satellite | 14 |