The Bridge V Learning Edition 1 ; our solar system | Page 12

Neptune
Ne p tu ne i s th e ei gh th p la ne t f rom the sun mak in g i t th e mo s t dis tan t in the
s ol ar s ys tem . T hi s gas gi an t ma y h a ve fo rmed m uc h cl os e r to th e s un i n e a rl y
s ol ar s ys tem his to ry b efo re mig ra ting to i ts p re se n t p osi tion . It’s su rf ac e h as a
b lue co lou r, lik e th a t of U ran us . W hite cl oud s fl y o ve r i ts s u rfa ce a t s pee ds of
o ve r 10 00 k m/h r. Neptu ne ’s p a th some times c ro ss es the o rbi t of d wa rf pl an e t
Pl u to . The pla ne t ha s a thi n rin g s ys tem an d 1 4 k no wn moon s .
Ne p tu ne i s th e sma lle s t o f the Ic e gi an ts b u t h as a g rea te r mas s than U ran us
a nd Ju pi te r. It is ma de of l a yers h yd rog en , h eli um an d me th an e wh ich en clo se s
a la ye r of wa te r, ammon ia and m e tha ne ic e . T he i nn er co re of Ne p tu ne i s mad e
of rock . B eca us e me th an e a bso rbs red l igh t, th e pl ane t ap pe a rs bl ue .
Ne p tu ne ha s a ve ry th in coll ec tion of ri ngs ma de u p of ic e pa rtic le s a nd d us t.
It h a s 14 m oon s i ncl ud ing T ri to n whi ch i s a f ro ze n wo rl d s pe wi ng ni tro ge n ic e
f rom b el ow i ts su rf ace