The Voyager 2 encounter with the Neptunian system

Journal Article · Fri Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.246.4936.1417· OSTI ID:5452715

Stone, E C; Miner, E D ^[1]

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1. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (USA)

An overview of the Voyager 2 encounter with Neptune is presented, including a brief discussion of the trajectory, the planned observations, and highlights of the results described in the 11 companion papers. Neptune's blue atmosphere has storm systems reminiscent of those in Jupiter's atmosphere. An optically thin methane ice cloud exists near the 1.5-bar pressure level, and an optically thick cloud exists below 3 bars. Neptune's magnetic field is highly tilted and offset from the planet's center; it rotates with a period of 16.11 hours. Two narrow and two broad rings circle the planet; the outermost of these rings has three optically thicker arc segments. Six moons were discovered in circular prograde orbits, all well inside Triton's retrograde orbit. Triton has a highly reflective and geologically young surface, a thin nitrogen atmosphere, and at least two active geyser-like plumes.

• OSTI ID: 5452715
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Vol. 246:4936; ISSN 0036-8075
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
NEPTUNE PLANET
EXPLORATION
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
GEOLOGY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MASS
METHANE
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
RINGS
SATELLITES
VOYAGER SPACE PROBES
ALKANES
ATMOSPHERES
HYDROCARBONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANETS
SPACE VEHICLES
VEHICLES
640107* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Planetary Phenomena