Neptune
Neptune is the eighth and farthest-known Solar planet from the Sun. In the Solar System, it is the fourth-largest planet by diameter, the third-most-massive planet, and the densest giant planet. It is 17 times the mass of Earth, slightly more massive than its near-twin Uranus
Neptune is denser and physically smaller than Uranus because its greater mass causes more gravitational compression of its atmosphere. The planet orbits the Sun once every 164.8 years at an average distance of 30.1 AU (4.5 billion km; 2.8 billion mi). It is named after the Roman god of the sea and has the astronomical symbol ♆, a stylised version of the god Neptune's trident.
Neptune Facts
- Distance from Sun: 4,495 billion km
- Orbital period: 165 years
- Radius: 24 622 km
- Surface area: 7,618 billion km²
- Moons: Triton, Thalassa, Proteus, Nereid, Hippocamp, Despina, MORE
- Discoverers: Urbain Le Verrier, Johann Gottfried Galle, John Couch Adam