What is a jovian planet ?
The planet jovian is a planet with properties similar to Jupiter, from which the term jovian was derived. They are mainly composed of gas molecules.
The smallest Jovian planet in our solar system is Neptune, with a radius of 24,622 km and a diameter of 49,493 km.
Neptune's physical properties
Neptune's atmosphere is very similar to Uranus.
About 80% is composed of hydrogen, about 19% is helium, and the rest is ethane and methane.
And because of the absorption of red light in the atmosphere and the reflection of blue light, Neptune's overall color is blue. Neptune's atmospheric composition is very similar to Uranus's, but the atmospheric flow will be relatively active for Neptune.
This can be inferred because atmospheric tornadoes, which were not seen on Uranus, are visible on Neptune. Atmospheric tornadoes on Neptune are called 'Great Dark Spots.'
Neptune's temperature is also similar to that of Uranus. The average temperature is -214°C, which emits more heat than the heat it gets from the Sun.
Neptune has a size of about 24,766 km, a mass of about 1.02x10 26 kg, and a density of 1638 kg/m³, very similar to Uranus. Therefore, it is assumed that the internal structure is also identical. In other words, liquid metallic hydrogen in the interior of Jupiter and Saturn cannot exist in Neptune, where the internal pressure is relatively small, and it is presumed that the ice of methane and ammonia in the atmosphere is ionized to exist. And compared to Jupiter, it is thought that the interior of Neptune has less hydrogen and helium content, and there are rocks and ice, similar to Uranus.
Neptune's axis of rotation is tilted by about 29.6° with respect to its orbital plane. And it rotates every 16.08 hours, which can be seen as normal compared to Uranus.
Neptune orbits about 4.5 billion kilometers from the Sun. Neptune's orbit is so tiny that its eccentricity is almost circular. The difference between its furthest and closest point is less than 100 million km, which is very small compared to its orbital radius. Neptune orbits the Sun once in about 163.7 years at a speed of about 23.5 km/s.
Neptune's magnetic field, shrouded in mystery, became known only after Voyager 2's close observation. The observed magnetic field strength of Neptune is about 0.4 times that of Earth. And like Uranus, Neptune's magnetic axis is highly tilted with respect to its axis of rotation. The reason for this phenomenon is still under investigation.
Neptune's Rings Neptune's rings were discovered by the discovery method of Uranus' rings. It was difficult to observe directly, but when Neptune caused an eclipse that obscured the stars in the background, the existence of Neptune's rings was recognized by the change in the brightness of the starlight. But what I saw for sure was thanks to Voyager 2. Like other planets that have rings, Neptune is made up of several rings.
Neptune, like other giant planets, has several moons. The largest of Neptune's moons is Triton, discovered by William Russel in 1846.
Triton, named after the son of Poseidon (Neptune) in Greek mythology, was provided with much data by Voyager 2. Triton's diameter is about 2,710 km, which is more significant than Earth's satellite (moon), and its mass is about 2.16x10 22 kg, which is about 3.5 times the Earth's. Triton also circumnavigates Neptune once every 5.88 days.
Temperature of Jovian Planet
Neptune's temperature is also similar to that of Uranus. The average temperature is -214°C, which emits more heat than the heat it gets from the Sun.
Internal structure of Neptune
Neptune has a size of about 24,766 km, a mass of about 1.02x10 26 kg, and a density of 1638 kg/m³, very similar to Uranus. Therefore, it is assumed that the internal structure is also identical. In other words, liquid metallic hydrogen in the interior of Jupiter and Saturn cannot exist in Neptune, where the internal pressure is relatively small, and it is presumed that the ice of methane and ammonia in the atmosphere is ionized to exist. And compared to Jupiter, it is thought that the interior of Neptune has less hydrogen and helium content, and there are rocks and ice, similar to Uranus.
Rotation of the Planet
Neptune's axis of rotation is tilted by about 29.6° with respect to its orbital plane. And it rotates every 16.08 hours, which can be seen as normal compared to Uranus.
Orbit of Neptune
Neptune orbits about 4.5 billion kilometers from the Sun. Neptune's orbit is so tiny that its eccentricity is almost circular. The difference between its furthest and closest point is less than 100 million km, which is very small compared to its orbital radius. Neptune orbits the Sun once in about 163.7 years at a speed of about 23.5 km/s.
Magnetic field of the smallest Jovian planet
Neptune's magnetic field, shrouded in mystery, became known only after Voyager 2's close observation. The observed magnetic field strength of Neptune is about 0.4 times that of Earth. And like Uranus, Neptune's magnetic axis is highly tilted with respect to its axis of rotation. The reason for this phenomenon is still under investigation.
Neptune's rings
Neptune's Rings Neptune's rings were discovered by the discovery method of Uranus' rings. It was difficult to observe directly, but when Neptune caused an eclipse that obscured the stars in the background, the existence of Neptune's rings was recognized by the change in the brightness of the starlight. But what I saw for sure was thanks to Voyager 2. Like other planets that have rings, Neptune is made up of several rings.
Moons of Neptune
Triton, named after the son of Poseidon (Neptune) in Greek mythology, was provided with much data by Voyager 2. Triton's diameter is about 2,710 km, which is more significant than Earth's satellite (moon), and its mass is about 2.16x10 22 kg, which is about 3.5 times the Earth's. Triton also circumnavigates Neptune once every 5.88 days.
The Triton shown by Voyager 2 was smaller and brighter than expected and was pink and blue. And Triton's icy volcano made of nitrogen particles rises to a height of several kilometers and then sinks. Triton, unlike other moons, is retrograde and has an atmosphere along with Jupiter's Io and Saturn's Titan.
In the summer of 1989, after a long 12-year journey, Voyager 2 approached Neptune about 4,950 km above the North Pole.
In the summer of 1989, after a long 12-year journey, Voyager 2 approached Neptune about 4,950 km above the North Pole.
Voyager 2, the first in human history to unravel the secrets of Neptune, sent thousands of photos taken through a telephoto lens back to Earth. In the photo, Neptune's blue atmosphere and the Great Dark Spot were marked at the far left of the equator.
In addition, Voyager 2 revealed that the cloud layer covering the dark spot of Neptune was made of methane ice and that there was a storm blowing at a speed of several hundred km/s near the great dark spot.
However, it is not yet known why this great dark spot appears dark. In particular, the data sent by Voyager 2 was unusual, one of which was the orbital direction of Neptune's moon Triton. Voyager 2 approached Triton as much as possible and sent relatively detailed data.
Triton orbits Neptune's equator at an angle of about 20° with an orbit of about 5.88 days. Strangely, unlike other satellites, it is retrograde in the opposite direction. Therefore, from this retrograde phenomenon, it is speculated that Triton is not a satellite born at the same time as Neptune but a satellite drawn into Neptune's orbit by Neptune's gravity.
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astronomy