neptune

The eighth planet from the sun and the outermost giant in the solar system. Neptune is an ice giant composed primarily of water, ammonia, and methane ices surrounding a rocky core.

Winds on Neptune exceed 2000 km/h, the fastest recorded in the solar system. The Great Dark Spot, observed by Voyager 2 in 1989, demonstrated massive storm systems comparable to Jupiter's.

Neptune orbits at roughly 30 AU, taking 165 Earth years to complete one circuit. Its largest moon, Triton, follows a retrograde orbit — evidence of gravitational capture from the Kuiper belt.

The planet's deep blue color comes from methane in the upper atmosphere absorbing red wavelengths of sunlight.

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