Neptune

The 8th planet from the sun.

• Neptune is the 8th planet from the sun in our solar system.   It is approximately 2,794 million miles from the sun.
• Neptune is about 30,775 miles in diameter.
• It takes Neptune about 165 Earth years to orbit the sun one time.
• A day (from sunrise to sunset) on Neptune is only about 16 hours.
• Neptune's atmosphere is made up of hydrogen, helium, and methane.  The methane makes it look blue in color.
• Neptune has 6 thin rings around the planet.  Some of the rings do not look complete because they are thicker and thinner in some places.
• The average temperature in Neptune's atmosphere is -370° F.
• Neptune has at least 8 known satellites, or moons, and there may be more.
• In 1994, the Hubble Telescope discovered dark spots on the surface that were caused by storms and changes in temperature.   The Voyager 2 spacecraft discovered wind speeds of 1,500 mph (2,400 k/ph) on the planet's surface.
• Neptune is named after the Roman God of the oceans.