The plains are dotted with pits, such as Leviathan Patera, which are probably the vents from which this lava emerged. Triton was named after a merman in Greek mythology who was the son of the sea god Poseidon (the Roman god Neptune ). [7] The plains near Triton's eastern limb are dotted with black spots, the maculae. The name was first proposed by Camille Flammarion in his 1880 book Astronomie Populaire, and was officially adopted many decades later. Triton is usually represented as a merman, with the upper body of a human and the tailed lower body of a fish. More than 140 years later, in 1989, NASA's Voyager 2 became the first-and only-spacecraft to study Neptune up close. When John Herschel received news of Neptune's discovery, he wrote to Lassell suggesting he search for possible moons. Triton: Discovered on October 10, 1846, by British astronomer William Lassell, just 17 days after Neptune itself was discovered. [87] But Rudolf Wittkower has cautioned against exaggerating the influences of Florentine fountains. Neptune's Moon Triton - Solar System Sketch of relief sculpture. Author of. [2] Nereid was discovered by Gerard P. Kuiper in 1949. [7] The two other known components are methane and carbon monoxide, whose abundances are a few hundredths of a percent of that of the nitrogen. Pausanias was basing his descriptions on a headless Triton exhibited in Tanagra and another curiosity in Rome. Therefore Triton must have been captured from elsewhere in the solar system. Cf. [61], All the geysers observed were located between 50 and 57S, the part of Triton's surface close to the subsolar point. He obtained a value of 3,800 km. Connelly claims this is so in some sources. [19] During the flyby, Voyager 2 took measurements of the atmosphere,[20] finding methane and nitrogen in the atmosphere. [66], Triton's western hemisphere consists of a strange series of fissures and depressions known as "cantaloupe terrain" because it resembles the skin of a cantaloupe melon. However, these moons are all much more distant from their primaries, and are small in comparison; the largest of them (Phoebe)[i] has only 8% of the diameter (and 0.03% of the mass) of Triton. The plumes captured on Triton are similar to the plumes seen on Enceladus and the modeled ejection speeds are more consistent to a deep source. [34][35] One explanation is that some vase painters developed the convention of depicting Nereus as a fully human form, so that Triton had to be substituted in the depiction of the sea-monster wrestling Herakles. Each of Tritons seasons, like those of Neptune, lasts nearly 41 years, or one-fourth of Neptunes orbital period. To NASA's knowledge, Triton is the only moon in the solar system that orbits in a direction opposite to the rotation of its planet. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). [1][2] He was the ruler (possessor) of the depths of the sea,[1] who is either "dreadful" or "mighty" () according to the epithet given him by Hesiod. [7][36], Because Triton's surface indicates a long history of melting, models of its interior posit that Triton is differentiated, like Earth, into a solid core, a mantle and a crust. [8], Other Solar System planets, dwarf planets, and moons with nitrogen-dominated atmospheres are the Earth, Titan, Pluto and, possibly, Eris. . Hippocamp was discovered in 2013. Overview Triton is the largest of Neptune's 13 moons. A cosmic magnifying glass: What is gravitational lensing? Astrobiologists are also considering that Triton could have water under its icy surface. It contains depressions 3040km in diameter. [14] These faults with parallel ridges expelled from the interior cross complex terrain with valleys in the equatorial region. The surface pressure is only 14 microbars (1.4 Pa or 0.0105 mmHg ), 170000 of the surface pressure on Earth, [1] and it is composed of nitrogen, similar to those of Titan and Earth. Triton discovered | Physics Today | AIP Publishing Moons of Neptune - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Wiki Other observations have shown an increase in temperature by 5% from 1989 to 1998. A Dutch astronomer Gerard P. Kuiper' found the second discovered Neptune Moon "Nereid" in 1949. The moon was discovered in 1846 by William Lassell, an amateur astronomer who financed his hobby with money made in the brewery business. There are relatively few impact craters on Triton. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. [79][80] And in Milton (1637), "Lycidas" v. 89, "The Herald of the Sea" refers to Triton. The largest moon of the planet Neptune has been given the name Triton, as Neptune is the Roman equivalent of Poseidon. They were believed at that time to have inhabited salt water environments and would occasionally come ashore. New Horizons image of Neptune and its largest moon, Triton, taken by the LORRI instrument on June 23, 2010. Credit: NASA. Some maculae are simple dark spots with diffuse boundaries, and others comprise a dark central patch surrounded by a white halo with sharp boundaries. Scientists assume that the underlying material in these structures is water ice, which is much more rocklike at low temperatures, although no direct evidence for it is seen in Tritons spectra. 10 October 2016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/PT.5.031325 On this date in 1846, just 17 days after Neptune was discovered, William Lassell discovered Triton, the largest moon of Neptune. [13][14][b], Triton is "sea-hued" according to Ovid and "his shoulders barnacled with sea-shells". [7] Voyager 2 remains the only spacecraft to have visited Triton. Triton has a surface of mostly frozen nitrogen, a mostly water-ice crust, an icy mantle and a substantial core of rock and metal. [7] The eruption of volatiles from Triton's equator and their deposition at the poles may redistribute enough mass over 10,000 years to cause polar wander.[64]. They are the flattest regions so far discovered, with a variance in altitude of less than 200m. They are thought to have formed from the eruption of icy lava. According to the Greek poet Hesiod, Triton dwelt with his parents in a golden palace in the depths of the sea. Dark streaks across Triton's south polar cap surface, thought to be dust deposits left by eruptions of nitrogen geysers. . ", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. [2] Nereid was discovered by Gerard P. Kuiper in 1949. (Reuters) The Coast Guard said last week that the US Navy had detected sounds that matched an "implosion or explosion" sometime after the sub vanished and before rescue efforts were launched.. Triton is one of the few moons in the Solar System known to be geologically active (the others being Jupiter's Io and Europa, and Saturn's Enceladus and Titan). The US Coast Guard said recovering items from the sea floor was a "priority" as it seeks to better understand what caused the submersible to implode during its expedition to see the wreck of the . [7] The temperature of Triton's upper atmosphere, at 955K, is higher than that at its surface, due to heat absorbed from solar radiation and Neptune's magnetosphere. The tropospheric winds are capable of moving material of over a micrometer in size thus forming the streaks. [44], The high plains found on Triton's eastern hemisphere, such as Cipango Planum, cover over and blot out older features, and are therefore almost certainly the result of icy lava washing over the previous landscape. This mission would launch around 2031 and would be aboard the SLS (Space Launch System) or an equivalent launch vehicle. The largest, Triton, was discovered in 1846 by William Lassell only about a month after Neptune was discovered. [19] Although Neptune was later confirmed to have rings, they are so faint and dark that it is not plausible he saw them. Triton dominates the Neptunian moon system, with over 99.5% of its total mass. Visit our corporate site. This event is more likely for more massive companions. [1] [3] Triton dwelt with his parents in underwater golden palaces. This color photo of Neptune's largest moon Triton was obtained by NASA's Voyager 2 probe on Aug. 24, 1989, from 330,000 miles away. Kuiper proposed the name when he . [35] Triton's reddish color is thought to be the result of methane ice, which is converted to tholins under exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Triton (moon) Facts for Kids At some time during the Greek and Roman era, Triton(s) became a generic term for a merman (mermen) in art and literature. Triton [TRY-tun] is the largest moon of Neptune, with a diameter of 2,700 kilometers (1,680 miles). Triton is named for a son of the Greek god Poseidon or Neptune. A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) deployed from the Canadian Horizon Arctic ship discovered the wreckage of the submersible on Thursday morning approximately 1,600 ft (488 metres) from the bow of . William Lassell discovered Triton almost three weeks after Neptune itself was discovered by German astronomers. [22], In the 1990s, observations from Earth were made of the occultation of stars by Triton's limb. [31][32], Triton is the seventh-largest moon and sixteenth-largest object in the Solar System and is modestly larger than the dwarf planets Pluto and Eris. Titanic ended on Thursday after pieces of the privately owned submersible . Viscoelastic damping from tides alone is not thought to be capable of circularizing Triton's orbit in the time since the origin of the system, and gas drag from a prograde debris disc is likely to have played a substantial role. [27][29], One of the works which recounts this adventure is Apollonius of Rhodes' Argonautica (3rd century BC), the first work in written literature that describes a Triton as "fish-tailed". It was discovered by the English astronomer William Lassell in October 1846, only a few weeks after the discovery of Neptune itself. Can You Match The Moon To Its Planet? Triton In Comics Powers, Enemies, History | Marvel [10] An upper limit in the low 40s (K) can be set from vapor pressure equilibrium with nitrogen gas in Triton's atmosphere. This proved to be a great overestimate, similar to the predictions of the atmospheric density of Mars, but like on Mars, a denser early atmosphere is postulated. Discovered by British astronomer William Lassell on October 10, 1846, Triton is so great in size that it was actually found just a few weeks after the French Astronomer Alexis Bouvard discovered Neptune itself. If an, Toggle Triton with men and heroes subsection, In this story, Pallas was inadvertently killed by Athena during sparring, and the goddess subsequently took a wooden figurine of Pallas and wrapped the, In Apollod. CO2 geysers on Mars are thought to erupt from its south polar cap each spring in the same way as Triton's geysers. This moon isn't just big though, it also has more than 99.5% of the total mass of all known bodies to orbit Neptune. [1][3], Triton dwelt with his parents in underwater golden palaces. Here's how to watch, Jam packed issues filled with the latest cutting-edge research, technology and theories delivered in an entertaining and visually stunning way, aiming to educate and inspire readers of all ages, Engaging articles, breathtaking images and expert knowledge. Nitrogen ice particles form clouds in the troposphere a few kilometers above the surface of Triton. [1] [2] He was the ruler (possessor) of the depths of the sea, [1] who is either "dreadful" or "mighty" ( ) according to the epithet given him by Hesiod. To be gravitationally captured by a planet, a passing body must lose sufficient energy to be slowed down to a speed less than that required to escape. [6] Lassell did so and subsequently discovered Triton eight days later. With a diameter of 1,681 miles (2,706 kilometers), it is a bit smaller than Earth's Moon but a bit larger than Pluto. Nevertheless, its mean density of 2.06 grams per cubic cm is higher than that measured for any of the satellites of Saturn or Uranus and is surpassed among large satellites only by the Moon and Jupiters Io and Europa. [29][30] The event was brief but gentle, saving Triton from collisional disruption. At 2,700 kilometres in diameter, it is the seventh-largest moon in the Solar System. Triton is also similar to Pluto in densityboth are about twice as dense as waterand surface composition. Updates? Tritons orbital tilt and its axial tilt of 30 with respect to Neptunes orbit combine in such a way that the moons poles alternately point toward the Sun, much like the case of Uranus. All of Neptune's moons, according to International Astronomical Union guidelines, are named after Roman or Greek mythological characters associated with Neptune, Poseidon or oceans. A vast multinational search for five people who had descended to view the wreckage of the sunken R.M.S. There is enough rock in Triton's interior for radioactive decay to maintain a liquid subsurface ocean to this day, similar to what is thought to exist beneath the surface of Europa and several other icy outer Solar System worlds. No efforts aimed at Neptune and Triton went beyond the proposal phase and NASA's funding for missions to the outer Solar System is currently focused on the Jupiter and Saturn systems. Triton | Facts & Composition | Britannica [36], In the red-figure period, the Triton-Herakles theme became completely outmoded, supplanted by such scenes as Theseus's adventures in Poseidon's golden mansion, embellished with the presence of Triton. [26] This will result in either a collision with Neptune's atmosphere or the breakup of Triton, forming a new ring system similar to that found around Saturn. 176 years, 7 months and 24 days Leap Year: No. New Moons Found around Neptune | NOIRLab As with Mars, a denser atmosphere is postulated for its early history. These features are unusually crater free, indicating they are young and were recently molten. Heres how it works. ", "Voyager 2 at Neptune: Imaging Science Results", "On the thermal structure of Triton's thermosphere", "Hubble Space Telescope Helps Find Evidence that Neptune's Largest Moon Is Warming Up", "MIT researcher finds evidence of global warming on Neptune's largest moon", "Candidate Cryovolcanic Features in the Outer Solar System", "Triton's Geyser-Like Plumes: Discovery and Basic Characterization", "Gas jet plumes unveil mystery of 'spiders' on Mars", "Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature", 10.1130/0091-7613(1993)021<0299:DOTARO>2.3.CO;2, "USA.gov: The U.S. Government's Official Web Portal", "Why We Should Use This Jumping Robot to Explore Neptune", "Triton Hopper: Exploring Neptune's Captured Kuiper Belt Object", "Neptune's Moon Triton Is Destination of Proposed NASA Mission", "Neptune Odyssey: Mission to the Neptune-Triton System", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Triton_(moon)&oldid=1157981400, This page was last edited on 1 June 2023, at 06:07. [30] Some measurements to be taken in this mission are: Magnetic Field, Gravitational Harmonics, Spectroscopy, visible imager, ions and electrons, neutral mass spectrometry, and dust. Little was known about the satellite until Voyager 2 flew by in 1989. [7] There could also be ammonia ice on the surface, as there are indications of ammonia dihydrate in the lithosphere. At least two of the streaks, and perhaps dozens, are the result of active geyserlike plumes seen erupting during the Voyager 2 flyby. Some models suggest that Neptune used to have other moons orbiting it. [7] They now flow to the west and are driven by differences in temperature between the poles and equator. [c][38] Elsewhere in the Bibliotheca, there appears a different Pallas (Giant), a male figure overcome by Athena. How Many Moons Does Neptune Have? - Let's Talk Stars The agency estimates the particles go as high as 5 miles (8 kilometers) before flowing downwind and striking the surface. Streaks on Triton's surface left by geyser plumes suggest that the troposphere is driven by seasonal winds capable of moving material over a micrometer in size. Solar radiation passes through the thin surface ice sheet, slowly heating and vaporizing subsurface nitrogen until enough gas pressure accumulates for it to erupt through the crust. [7], During its 1989 flyby of Triton, Voyager 2 found surface temperatures of 38K (235C) and also discovered active geysers erupting sublimated nitrogen gas, contributing to a tenuous nitrogen atmosphere less than .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);clip-path:polygon(0px 0px,0px 0px,0px 0px);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}170,000 the pressure of Earth's atmosphere at sea level.
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