Triton
Neptune's Moon By: Sam Smith
Discovery of Triton
Triton was discovered by William Lassell. He discovered it in 1846. His discovery led to Triton being the largest moon out of 13 of Neptune's moons. Also, it's about 4.5 billion years old. (Same age as Neptune) Triton is 354,759 km (219,965 mi) in diameter.
What it's like on Triton
On Triton the surface temperature is -235C, which is the coldest known temperature. The polar ice cap is highly reflective. It is composed more of rock than ice. It's also composed of nitrogen. Triton is covered with cliffs, faults and craters. The moon is a blueish, frosty white color with pink splotches. One side of Triton faces the sun, and the other faces Neptune. They take turns rotating.
What it looks like.
Ice lava forms from frozen lakes.
Triton
Front of Triton
Triton
Top of Triton
Triton
Triton next to Neptune
Interesting facts about Triton
Triton orbits in the opposite direction of Neptune's rotation. Nitrogen/methane glaciers flow out of fractures. It has geyser like eruptions, plume creates dark particles. The orbital period is a little less than 6 days. Triton has a thin atmosphere. The density is twice as much as the density of water.
Sources
Anne's Astronomy News. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. <http://annesastronomynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Triton-is-with-2700-km-in-diameter-the-largest-moon-of-Neptune.-It-has-a-surface-of-mostly-frozen-nitrogen-a-mostly-water-ice-crust-an-icy-mantle-and-a-substantial-core-of-rock-and-metal.-It-has-a-retrograde-orbit.jpg>.D.,
Bob the Aliens. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. <http://www.bobthealien.co.uk/neptunetriton.jpg>.
Carroll. "Neptune-Rings and Moons." The new book of Popular Science. 200 ed. 154-155. Print.
Cosmic Secrets . Web. 21 Mar. 2013. <http://www.thelivingmoon.com/43ancients/04images/Triton/PIA01536a.jpg>.
Neptune. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. <http://www.arcadiastreet.com/cgvistas/images/neptune_from_triton_orbit_600.jpg>
Solar System Exploration. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. <https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/display.cfm?IM_ID=2146>.
Triton (moon). Web. 21 Mar. 2013. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Triton_(moon).jpg/220px-Triton_(moon).jpg>.