Knowra Moons of Neptune Moons of Neptune The natural satellites orbiting Neptune. They include the large captured moon Triton, the irregular outer moon Nereid, and smaller inner and outer satellites.
Triton : Neptune’s largest moon, a geologically active world on a retrograde orbit. Its size and backward orbit set it apart from every other major satellite in the system.
Triton's capture : The process by which Neptune gravitationally acquired Triton, probably from the Kuiper belt. Capture explains Triton’s retrograde orbit, which ordinary satellite formation cannot readily produce.
Voyager 2 : A NASA spacecraft that flew past Neptune in 1989 and explored the planet and its satellites. Its flyby supplied the first close-up observations of Triton and several inner moons.
Triton's geology : The study of Triton’s surface features, icy crust, and geological activity. Voyager images revealed active-looking terrain, but Triton’s internal heat source remains uncertain.
Moons of Jupiter : The natural satellites orbiting Jupiter, including the four large Galilean moons. Jupiter’s large regular moons contrast with Neptune’s dominant captured moon.
Nereid : Neptune’s irregular moon, known for its unusually eccentric orbit. Its stretched orbit distinguishes the outer satellites from Neptune’s compact inner group.
Kuiper belt : A region beyond Neptune containing many icy bodies, including dwarf planets and smaller objects. Triton may have begun as a Kuiper belt object before becoming Neptune’s moon.
Proteus : The largest known inner moon of Neptune after Triton, with an irregular shape and heavily cratered surface. Its size and cratered terrain make it a striking example of Neptune’s inner satellites.
Triton's subsurface ocean : A hypothesized liquid-water layer beneath Triton’s icy surface. An ocean could help explain geological features and may persist through tidal or radioactive heating.
Moons of Saturn : The natural satellites orbiting Saturn, including Titan, Enceladus, and many smaller moons. Saturn’s diverse, numerous satellites offer a contrasting outcome of giant-planet formation.
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