Ice Giant · Farthest Planet
Neptune
The farthest planet from the Sun, Neptune is a dynamic world generating its own internal heat. Despite receiving only 1/900th of Earth's sunlight, it drives the strongest winds in the Solar System - up to 2,100 km/h.
Overview
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Atmosphere composition
Hydrogen
80%
Helium
19%
Methane
1.5%
Hydrogen Deuteride
0.019%
Other traces
<0.01%
Notable features
- Winds up to 2,100 km/h - fastest in the Solar System
- Great Dark Spot - large storm system (now dissipated)
- Triton - largest moon, orbits backwards, likely a captured KBO
- Internal heat source - radiates 2.6× more heat than it receives
Space missions
| Mission | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Voyager 2 | 1989 | Only spacecraft to visit Neptune - 5-hour flyby |
| Neptune Odyssey | 2040s proposed | Flagship orbiter and probe concept |
NASA images
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Images courtesy of NASA Image & Video Library.