Its not known for certain, but scientist suspect that Proteus is in all probability. On account of Proteus being so dark and orbiting so close to its bright planet (and hence its glare) was likely the main reason the moon was discovered after the more distant Nereid. Proteus's mass is estimated/calculated at 50,355,259,352,065,700,000 kg. Discovered: June 16 th, 1989 by Stephen Synnott (part of Voyager team) Name: From Greek mythology, Proteus is the shape-changing sea god! There could be subsurface ocean of slushy or liquid water. But the largest moon is Triton. [3] Proteus is tidally locked to Neptune, and rotates synchronously with its orbital motion, which means that Proteus always presents the same face to Neptune. It has been noticed that there are many large craters all across the surface of Proteus. The Cassini spacecraft has been gone for a year now, but the science continues. the period it takes to complete an orbit round Neptune is 1.12232 days. Check out our magazine! The geysers of Triton spewing nitrogen gas out from beneath the surface into long plumes that rise as high as 8 kilometres. Centers And Events In the earlier papers slightly different dimensions were reported. The average global temperature on Neptune unexpectedly fluctuated during a recent 17-year period, according to a new study. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for helping others, she has developed a reputation for excellence in academic content writing. So, it was missed by that telescope. The mass was calculated by multiplying the volume from Stooke (1994), "The orbits of the inner Neptunian satellites from Voyager, Earthbased, and Hubble Space Telescope observations", "Planetary Satellite Physical Parameters", "Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS Multiband Photometry of Proteus and Puck", "Voyager 2 at Neptune: Imaging Science Results", "Planetary Names: Crater, craters: Pharos on Proteus", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Proteus_(moon)&oldid=1158555203, This page was last edited on 4 June 2023, at 20:25. The moon has an odd box-like shape and if it had just a little more mass it would be able to transform into a sphere. More Cool & Interesting Facts About Proteus!! Its density has been calculated at being 1.3. Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto The Moon Moons of Neptune There are 13 moonsdiscovered to orbit around the 8th planet of the solar system, Neptune. Proteus is more than 248.5 mi (400 km) in diameter, making it bigger thanNereid, another moon of Neptune. Planet Jupiter | The Solar Systems Gas Giant, Planck Spacecraft Maps The Universes Oldest Light, Spitzer Space Telescope | Observing In Infrared. Triton is Neptune's largest moon and is the only large moon in the solar system to orbit in the opposite direction to its planet's rotation, this is known as a retrograde orbit. [16] Proteus may have ceased its integral orbital resonance with Larissa several hundred million years ago. 5 Little-Known Facts About the Apollo 11 Moon Landing NASA-funded scientists have discovered shaded locations within pits on the Moon that always hover around a comfortable 63 F. Neptune and Uranus have much in common yet their appearances are notably different. NASA scientists have identified a molecule in Titans atmosphere that has never been detected in any other atmosphere. Triton rotates once on its axis as it orbits the planet. Mid 2026 - SpaceX launches the Starship with crew bound for Mars (hopefully) In 2023, NASAs Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) will land near the western edge of the Nobile Crater at the Moons South Pole. The most prominent one runs parallel to the equator to the west of Pharos. The largest is Triton, which accounts for 95% of all objects that are currently in orbit round Neptune. Proteus Moon Facts & Mythology - Universe Guide Spaceopedia aims to educate the world's children about the amazing wonders of our Solar System and Outer Space through knowledge accumulated over the years from studying the Cosmos using Earth based observations and data (and images) sent back from Space probes. Mid 2022 -Launch The Space Launch System Rocket! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. There are loads of craters on the Proetus's surface. Proteus is a Moon that orbits the planet neptune. Proteus (moon) - Wikipedia So, they are nearly undetected. Proteus is one of the darkest objects in the solar system. Sakshi is well-versed in the latest developments in e-learning and has a deep understanding of how to engage students and make learning fun and accessible. This may imply that Triton was captured by Neptunes gravity into its inclined orbit. This makes it stay close to Neptune's equator. Scientists have not been able to identify the exact composition of this Proteus moon. Astronomers now have an explanation for why the two planets are different colors. The depth of this certain crater is 9.3 mi (15 km) and, astonishingly, the diameter of this single crater is 143 mi (230 km). Proteus circles Neptune in 26 hours, 54 minutes. It is believed by scientists that if there was a little more weight, it would have turned into a sphere under its own surface gravity. There are also a number of scarps, grooves, and valleys related to large craters. Mimas | Cool Facts About The Death Star Moon! It is amazing to know that Proteus is the closest moon to Neptune and yet it was missed in the initial discoveries. Proteus was an old sea god whom was a herdsman for Poseidon's seals. The crust is largely water ice. Proteus is actually the second largest of all the moons and Neptunian satellites. But it's true. August 2022 -Launch Psyche Spacecraft - Journey to 16 Psyche! Research reveals a new explanation for how the icy shell of Jupiters moon Europa rotates at a different rate than its interior. Exploration Galleries On this page Ten Things to Know About Neptune Pop Culture Kid-Friendly Neptune Read More Dark, cold, and whipped by supersonic winds, ice giant Neptune is the eighth and most distant planet in our solar system. 10 Things: Unsolved Mysteries of Saturn's Moons, Ocean Currents May Affect Rotation of Europa's Icy Crust, NASA's LRO Finds Lunar Pits Harbor Comfortable Temperatures, 10 Things: Dust in the Wind (on Mars and Well Beyond), January 2022: The Next Full Moon is the Wolf Moon, or Ice Moon, Are Water Plumes Spraying from Europa? 10 Irregular Galaxy Facts You Should Know. Bill Dunford [19], Proteus initially had a smaller orbit around Neptune, and may have formed closer to the planet. Proteus orbits Neptune about every 27 hours. May 15-16th 2022 - Total Lunar Eclipse Across America's The other five moons are much smaller, each having a mean radius of less than 100 km (60 miles). The value is the radius in km of the said object at the Equator. 2) Its surface is home to mountains, huge craters and flat planes called ' seas ' made of hardened lava. Mid 2022 -NASA's Orion Journey to the Moon! A 3D model of Deimos, one of two moons of Mars. So, Proteus remains in close proximity to Neptune's equator. May 6th2025- Saturn at equinox (the Rings disappear!) Neptune - Moons, Rings, Orbit | Britannica But as well as this, we know Proteus has many craters across its surface, including its largest crater, Pharos. This site is maintained by the Planetary Science Communications team at, New Horizons Team Discusses Discoveries from the Kuiper Belt, Ocean Currents May Affect Rotation of Europa's Icy Crust, NASA's LRO Finds Lunar Pits Harbor Comfortable Temperatures, Why Uranus and Neptune Are Different Colors, New Study Finds Unexpected Temperature Changes on Neptune, Are Water Plumes Spraying from Europa? Early 2023 -Launch of the New Glenn Rocket! The glare of the reflection of sunlight covers it when seen from a telescope. Proteus orbits Neptune. [14] Stephen P. Synnott and Bradford A. Smith announced its discovery on July 7, 1989, speaking only of "17 frames taken over 21 days", which gives a discovery date of sometime before June 16. She has worked with esteemed professionals such as Mr. Kapil Raj, a professor of History of Science at the cole des Hautes tudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris, further enhancing her knowledge and expertise. If you give an email address, you may receive an email notifying you when someone else has added a comment to the same page. 1. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. This image of Neptune's irregularly-shaped satellite Proteus (1989 N1) taken by Voyager 2 shows a resolution of 8 km (5 miles) per pixel. The name was given on 16 September 1991 . It is also not a sphere; scientists believe Proteus is about as big as a body of its density can be without being pulled into a spherical shape by its own gravity. The average distance of the object from its parent is 117646.00km. This article contains incorrect information, This article doesnt have the information Im looking for. Moore Boeck. Proteus - Space Centre Europa Proteus, A Moon Of Neptune - Solar System December 8th 2022- Mars at opposition (Closest to Earth) Proteus was named, like all the moons of Neptune, after Greek or Roman mythology characters associated with Neptune or Poseidon! Proteus was a sea god who could change his shape at will. Why does it look like the Moon is changing shape? The Escape Velocity of Proteus is 644 km/h. New Horizons continues to shed light on the mysterious planets and smaller bodies of the outer solar system. It refers to the object's size, height, width and depth. Although there's still a lot we don't know about it because of its dark surface, we do know some details about this oddly shaped object. The surface of Proteus shows several flat or slightly concave facets measuring from 150 to 200km in diameter. Design & Development: Mid 2023 -SpaceX's Starship 'Dear Moon' Mission! If you liked our suggestions for 15 amazing Proteus moon facts for kids that adore the solar system, then why not take a look at facts about Bolton Town in England, or 23 impressive lightning bolt facts that will completely shock you! The result will be a ring system. Proteus is a dark moon, it hardly reflects any sunlight, in fact, it only reflects about 6% of the light it receives which goes someway to explaining why it took so long to spot. Proteus is more than 400 kilometres in diameter, bigger than Nereid, another moon of Neptune. It is named after Proteus, the shape-changing sea god of Greek mythology. Proteus is the second largest moon of Neptune, based on diameter. Cassinis discoveries have elevated the small, icy moon of Enceladus to one of the best places to search for life. [4] Pharos is the only named surface feature on this moon: the name is Greek and refers to the island where Proteus reigned. The figure comes from N.A.S.A.. Proteus' equatorial radius is 210km. Thomas and Veverka in 1991 reported 440416404km. Discovered in 1989 by Voyager 2. However, it was not found by Earth -based telescopes because it is so close to the planet that it is lost in the glare of reflected sunlight. Proteus was the third moon of Neptune to be discovered, 40 years after the discovery of Neptune's moon Nereid in 1949. The bright blue diffraction star is Triton, Neptune's largest moon. The shadows cast by the roughness of the Moons surface create small cold spots for water ice to accumulate even during the harsh lunar daytime. This page was last modified on 17 June 2023, at 13:05. The orbital inclination of Proteus, the angle at which Proteus orbits to the orbital plane, is 0.04 degrees. It is named after Proteus, the shape-changing sea god of Greek mythology. Moore Boeck, What's Up Video: July 2019 Skywatching Tips from NASA. The southern polar cap of Triton is covered with frozen nitrogen and methane. Interplanetary missions are similar, but with spaceship parts instead of potatoes or pie. I see what would it be like to stand on this oddly shaped moon that is. It is named after Proteus, the shape-changing sea god of Greek mythology. But these tiny particles that float about and settle on surfaces play an important role across the solar system. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson laid out the path forward for early Artemis missions that will pave the way for lunar surface missions. The mission revealed a planet so phenomenal scientists had to go back. For the first time, astronomers have uncovered evidence of water vapor in the atmosphere of Jupiter's moon Ganymede. December 10th 2117 - Next Transit of Venus It is unusual because it is the only large moon in our solar system that orbits in the opposite direction of its planet's rotationa retrograde orbit. It hasn't been walked on by man since 1972. Moreover, whereas the orbits of the largest moons in the solar system are inclined less than about 5 to their Although even a smaller moon Nereid had been discovered and not Proteus. All in all, Proteus is one of the more interesting moons and we will learn more and more about it over the coming years. [18], Proteus, like the other inner moons of Neptune, is unlikely to be an original body that formed with it, and is more likely to have accreted from the rubble that was produced after Triton's capture. 3^3 is 3*3*3. Triton orbits Neptune in retrograde that is, opposite to the direction of Neptunes rotation on its axis. The size of Proteus is not anywhere close to that of Triton. There is a strong belief that there must be a lot of ice on its surface. NASA's Europa Clipper is on the Case, Hubble's Grand Tour of the Outer Solar System, NASA Outlines Challenges, Progress for Artemis Moon Missions, How to Find Hidden Oceans on Distant Worlds? Proteus was only discovered when the Voyager 2 Space Probe flew by. It has an unusual polyhedron shape. Our 2021 round-up of NASA planetary science is packed with the years most spectacular images, ground-breaking discoveries, and incredible mission events. The surface of the proteus is heavily cratered. Surveyor Program | Preparing For Manned Landings, Twenty Top Fun Facts About The Constellations, Star Charts A Guide to Exploring The Heavens! [12], Proteus was discovered from the images taken by the Voyager 2 space probe two months before its Neptune flyby in August 1989. Proteus is heavilycratered. It is about 420km (260mi) in diameter, larger than Nereid, Neptune's third-largest moon. Proteus is a Moon that orbits the planet Neptune. The color of its surface is neutral as the reflectivity does not change appreciably with the wavelength from violet to green. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. As the Voyager 2 had taken 17 pictures of that part of space in a period of 21 days. Incredible Facts about the Moon - Odyssey Magazine Proteus: Dark Moon of Neptune - GO ASTRONOMY It got the designation S/1989 N 1. [6] Its depth is about 1015km. Mars' Moon Phobos The planet is very far away from the Earth, so we did not have much information about its moon. Proteus was discovered on June 16th, 1989 by American astronomer Stephen P. Synnott. It was initially given the designation of S/1989 N1 as it was discovered in the year 1989. Prometheus is extremely irregular and has visible craters some up to 12.4 miles (20 kilometers) in diameter. on 5 October 2022 Sub-edited by Rhea Nischal ; Fact-checked by Pratiti Nath 6 mins to read Share this article Get inspiration for education! It got the designation S/1989N1. Proteus Facts. April 20th 2023 - 1 min 16 sec Total Solar Eclipse! However, it is much less cratered than its nearby neighbors Pandora, Janus and Epimetheus. For Artemis astronauts traveling to the Moon, two space weather instrument suites, NASAs HERMES and ESAs ERSA, will provide an early forecast. [4], Proteus may have once been in a 1:2 orbital resonance with Larissa, where Proteus makes one orbit for every two orbits made by Larissa. Proteus (moon) Facts for Kids For comparison, the Earth's surface gravity is 9.807 m/s². It doesnt take on a strictly spherical shape like some other moons that entered into Neptunes equatorial plane. We know that Proteus is among the larger Neptunian moons, it has many moons. Current Missions This does not influence our choices. All Rights Reserved. In Depth | Prometheus - NASA Solar System Exploration However, it is much less cratered than its nearby neighbors Pandora, Janus and Epimetheus. However for moons with a lower mass, this doesnt typically happen, and this is a reason we get a moon like Proteus! (Photo Credit: Bettmann / Getty Images) That's probably not something you've ever even thought about. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. Triton is the only large moon of the solar system that travels around its planet in retrograde fashion. Prometheus is extremely irregular and has visible craters some up to 12.4 miles (20 kilometers) in diameter. It doesn't mean 9. The surface area of Proteus is 213,968.91 mi, The total volume of Proteus is 9,306,788.33 mi. Moons of Neptune An annotated picture of some of Neptune 's many moons as captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. Proteus orbits the planet Neptune every 26.55 hours. @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-odysseymagazine_com-medrectangle-3-0-asloaded{max-width:300px!important;max-height:250px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'odysseymagazine_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_6',126,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-odysseymagazine_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Proteus, like many other moons and planets, takes its name from Greek mythology. [18] In addition to Pharos there are several craters 50100km in diameter and many more with diameters less than 50km. NASAs VIPER will be the first off-world rover to have its brains split in two as it explores the Moons surface in search of water ice. From deep below the soil at Earths polar regions to Plutos frozen heart, ice exists all over the solar systemand beyond. For the first time, astronomers have uncovered evidence of water vapor in the atmosphere of Jupiter's moon Ganymede. Twilight vs Dusk What is the Difference? In Depth | Neptune Moons - NASA Solar System Exploration This is all likely caused by other objects and comets coming into collision with Proteus. Pharos has a depth of more than 15km and a diameter of more than 230km, which is a significant part of Proteuss surface. Proteus, with a mean radius of about 208 km (129 miles), is a little larger than Nereid, with a mean radius of about 170 km (106 miles). Mid 2022 -Launch of The Dream Chaser Spaceplane! Voyager 2 image of Proteus, digitally processed showing surface features. Larissa Neptune VII - 1989N2, 1981N1 Larissa [LA-ree-suh] is only about 48,800 kilometers (30,300 miles) from Neptune's clouds, and circles the planet in 13 hours, 18 minutes. Stephen P. Synnott and Bradford A. Smith said (IAUC 4806) its discovery on July 7, 1989, speaking only of 17 frames taken over 21 days, which gives a discovery date of sometime before June 16. Fast Summary Facts About The Moon! Early 2030 -The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer Enters Jupiter's Orbit Science Writers: 10th October 2024 -Launch Europa Clipper - To Jupiter's Moon If you enjoyed this article, why not also read about the moon Callisto or Nix (moon) here at Kidadl. 10 facts about the Moon 1) The Moon is a dusty ball of rock, measuring 3,476km in diameter - that's roughly a quarter of the size of Earth. [14] The largest crater, Pharos, has a diameter from 230 to 260 km. The BEST Space & Astronomy Related YouTube Channels! it is named like all the other Neptunian moons after a Greek Mythological character with a connection to either Neptune or Poseidon, the god of the seas. Proteus is the largest moon that is not fully spherical in shape. This is an author profile for articles that are created from a collaborative effort. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! These features likely formed as a result of the giant impacts, which formed Pharos and other large craters or as a result of tidal stresses from Neptune. Could Phobos Help Reveal Secrets of the Martian Past? An interesting fact is that Saturn's moonMimasis spherical in shape, even though it has less mass than Proteus. The direction of its revolution is the same as that of Neptune's rotation. These compounds may be responsible for the low albedo of the inner Neptunian moons. [13], Upon discovery, Proteus received the temporary provisional designation S/1989N1. But yes, it is the second-largest moon of Neptune. Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! IAU Circular describing the discovery of S/1989 N 1, https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/w/index.php?title=Proteus_(moon)&oldid=5138699, the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. It is one of the darkest objects in the solar system, reflecting only 6-10% of light. Proteus is probably not an original body that formed with Neptune. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers located in countries outside the EU if you do not agree to such placement, do not provide the information. Likewise, km^2 refers to the object's height and width. Social Media Lead: The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Although Proteus is usually thought to contain significant amounts of water ice, it has not been detected spectroscopically on the surface. The Voyager 1 science team discovered Prometheus in October 1980. The shadows cast by the roughness of the Moons surface create small cold spots for water ice to accumulate even during the harsh lunar daytime. NASAs Hubble Space Telescope has completed this year's grand tour of the outer solar system. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. Moons of Saturn were originally named for Greco-Roman Titans and descendants of the Titans. Proteus is irregularly shaped as it has not got enough gravitational pull to make it a round shape under force. Proteus is more than 400 kilometres in diameter, bigger than Nereid, another moon of Neptune. Proteus (moon) Facts for Kids | KidzSearch.com Proteus is the 2nd largest moon of planet Neptune. Phil Davis & Steve Carney They are probably degraded impact craters. [10], Proteus orbits Neptune at a distance of approximately 117,647km (73,102mi), nearly equal to 4.75 times the equatorial radius of the planet. There may be a north polar cap as well. There was 02-02-2022 and now 02-22-2022 which some people are calling Twosday.. Its more likely to be a collision between Triton and another object. There are no other missions planned to Neptune or Triton for the foreseeable future. August 2nd2027 - 6 min 23 sec Total Solar Eclipse! We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. [4], Proteus is heavily cratered, showing no sign of any geological modification. Solar System Triton could be divided into layers of ice around a rocky core. Size: Measuring 424 x 390 x 396 km Moon Rank: 20 th Largest in the solar system Orbit: Prograde and Circular Orbit Radius: 117,647 km from Neptune's cloud tops Space Related Quiz! The orbital motion of Proteus is in the same direction as that of Neptune itself. First Crewed Flight of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner! Triton is a frozen wonderland, exhibiting a strange array of terrain types. Image Gallery Possibly in the top position among the darkest objects in oursolar system, Proteus has a higher ranking. 10 Proteus Moon Facts | Cool Facts about Proteus - Odyssey Magazine
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