Neptune is a planet in our Solar System that is often overlooked. It is a very large and interesting planet that has many mysteries and secrets that are worth learning about.
Discovery of Neptune
Neptune was discovered in 1846 when astronomers performed orbit calculations for Uranus and realized that the planetary orbit was not matching what they expected. This caused them to make predictions about an unknown planet that could be causing these changes in Uranus's orbit. The predictions led to the discovery of Neptune by French mathematician Urbain Joseph Le Verrier and Johann Gottfried Galle in 1846.
Characteristics of Neptune
This planet is one of the largest gas giants in our Solar System. It is made up mostly of hydrogen and a smaller amount of helium. It has a very thick atmosphere that gives Neptune its blue color. It has 14 known moons, the largest being Triton. The planet also has a small ring system similar to Saturn, but not as large or as bright. When Voyager 2 passed by Neptune in 1989, it was able to take some amazing images of this planet. These pictures were incredibly clear and helped scientists learn a lot about this planet.
Weather on Neptune
The weather on Neptune is very similar to Earth's. It has seasons that last about 40 years. However, the temperature of Neptune's climate isn't quite as warm as it is on Earth. Neptune's temperature is a few degrees warmer near its equator and poles than at mid-latitudes. This is probably due to a circulation of air that rises and descends at certain latitudes.
Magnetic Field and Unique Features
Like other giant planets, Neptune has a strong magnetic field. This field has a lot of power and is 27 times stronger than that of Earth's. As a result, it can cause some very odd things to happen on Neptune's surface. For instance, the Great Dark Spot (shown on the image below) is very big and has a powerful storm that can reach 1,200 miles per hour! It also has very strong winds that can be seen on the surface. These are the strongest in our Solar System! There are also a few large clouds in the sky on Neptune that can be seen from the ground. These are called methane ice clouds and they are formed when pockets of methane move upward from the cloud base into the upper layers of Neptune's atmosphere. The dark spot that is so prominent in Neptune's northern hemisphere is actually a methane ice cloud that has traveled up to the cloud tops!
The Significance of Neptune
When Neptune is positioned in the zodiac sign of Cancer, it is said that it is the planet of collective consciousness. It is the planet that reminds us to take time to think about what it means to be at home. It is interesting to note that Neptune was discovered when the world was going through a major transition. During that time, the whimsy and optimism of the roaring 1920s gave way to the hard realities of American poverty.
