Astronomy:Outline of Neptune

Short description: Overview of and topical guide to Neptune

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Neptune:

Neptune – eighth and farthest known planet from the Sun in the Solar System. In the Solar System, it is the fourth-largest planet by diameter, the third-most-massive planet, and the densest giant planet. Neptune is 17 times the mass of Earth and is slightly more massive than its near-twin Uranus, which is 15 times the mass of Earth and slightly larger than Neptune. Neptune orbits the Sun once every 164.8 years at an average distance of 30.1 astronomical units (4.50×10⁹ km). It is named after the Roman god of the sea and has the astronomical symbol ♆, a stylised version of the god Neptune's trident.

Classification of Neptune

• Astronomical object
  • Gravitationally rounded object
    • Planet
      • Giant planet
        • Ice giant
      • Planet of the Solar System
        • Outer planet
        • Superior planet

Location of Neptune

• Milky Way Galaxy – barred spiral galaxy
  • Orion Arm – a spiral arm of the Milky Way
    • Solar System – the Sun and the objects that orbit it, including 8 planets, the eighth and furthest planet from the Sun being Neptune
      • Orbit of Neptune

Movement of Neptune

• Orbit of Neptune
• Rotation of Neptune

Features of Neptune

• Atmosphere of Neptune
• Rings of Neptune

Natural satellites of Neptune

• Moons of Neptune

Inner moons of Neptune

• Naiad
• Thalassa
• Despina
• Galatea
• Larissa
• Hippocamp
• Proteus

Retrograde moons of Neptune

• Triton
• Atmosphere of Triton
• List of geological features on Triton
• Halimede
• Psamathe
• Neso

Prograde moons of Neptune

• Nereid
• Sao
• Laomedeia

History of Neptune

History of Neptune

• Discovery of Neptune

Exploration of Neptune

Exploration of Neptune

Flyby missions to explore Neptune

• Voyager 2

Future of Neptune exploration

Proposed missions to explore Neptune

• Interstellar Express
• Neptune Orbiter
• ODINUS
• Trident

See also

• Outline of astronomy
  • Outline of the Solar System
• Outline of space exploration

External links

• NASA's Neptune fact sheet
• Neptune from Bill Arnett's nineplanets.org
• Neptune Astronomy Cast episode No. 63, includes full transcript.
• Neptune Profile at NASA's Solar System Exploration site
• Planets – Neptune A children's guide to Neptune.
• Merrifield, Michael; Bauer, Amanda (2010). "Neptune". Sixty Symbols. Brady Haran for the University of Nottingham. http://www.sixtysymbols.com/videos/neptune.htm. 
• Neptune by amateur (The Planetary Society)