QueSPER Research Projects

Planets in the Solar System

Neptune

NeptuneNepture

QueSPER Research Plan and Note-taking Worksheets

 

 Neptune Printout

*One AU is the distance from the center of the Earth to the center of the Sun.

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How far is Neptune from the Sun?
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Neptune is the eighth closest planet to the Sun.

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Neptune is almost 2.8 billion miles or 4.5 billion kilometers from the Sun.

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Neptune is 30.06 AU* from the Sun.

 

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How big is Neptune? (What is its diameter?)
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Neptune is 30,764 miles or 49,528 kilometers in diameter.

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Neptune is about 4 times larger in diameter than Earth.

 

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What is Neptune like?
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Neptune has a blue-green color because of the methane gas on the planet.

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Its surface is very stormy. Winds top 900 miles an hour and storms are similar to Jupiter's "Great Red Spot."

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Neptune's atmosphere is made of hydrogen, helium, methane, and ammonia.

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Neptune is very cold at -353° F.

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Neptune has thirteen moons (12/2006). Nine have names.

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Neptune's moon Triton is unique in the Solar System because it is the only large moon that orbits in the opposite direction to its planet's rotation.

 
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Why is this planet named Neptune?
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Neptune is named for a Roman god of the sea.

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Neptune was the first planet to be discovered using mathematical prediction.  Neptune was discovered on September 23, 1846 by Johann Gottfried Galle, of the Berlin Observatory, and Louis d'Arrest, an astronomy student, through mathematical predictions made by Urbain Jean Joseph Le Verrier.

 
bulletCan we see Neptune in the night sky?
bulletNot without a telescope. 
bulletThe Hubble Space Telescope (NASA) has captured images of Neptune.

*One AU is the distance from the center of the Earth to the center of the Sun.

Information on this page was taken from the following websites:

Links to Other Sites

bulletExplore a Planet - Neptune
bullet Astronomy for Kids

Books and References

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Time for Kids Almanac 2003 with Information Please. NY: Time for Kids Books, 2002. RL 4.5 Dewey 031.02
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Farndon, John. The Giant Book of Space. Brookfield,CT: Copper Beech Bks, 2000. RL 4.5 Dewey 523.4

"The Solar System 12/2006: 8 Planets; The New Cosmic Order." Map Insert. National Geographic Magazine.  Dec., 2006.

Other Links to Sites

The-Solar-System.Net

The Nine Planets - Neptune

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