What type of gas is neptune made of

Because Neptune's atmospheric methane content is similar to that of Uranus, some unknown atmospheric constituent is thought to contribute to Neptune's more intense coloring. Also like Uranus, Neptune's internal structure is differentiated between a rocky core consisting of silicates and metals; a mantle consisting of water, ammonia and methane ices; and an atmosphere consisting of hydrogen, helium and methane gas.

It's atmosphere is also divided into four layers, consisting of from innermost to outermost the lower troposphere, the stratosphere, the thermosphere and the exosphere. The two main regions of Neptune's atmosphere are the two innermost ones: the lower troposhere, where temperatures decrease with altitude; and the stratosphere, where temperature increases with altitude. Within the troposphere, pressure levels range from one to five bars and kPa , hence the surface of Neptune is defined as being within this region.

The surface layer is also permeated by roving bands of clouds with varying compositions, depending on altitude and pressure. At the upper-level, temperatures are suitable for methane to condense, and the pressure conditions are such that clouds consisting of ammonia, ammonium sulfide, hydrogen sulfide and water can exist. At lower levels, clouds of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide are thought to form. Deeper clouds of water ice should be also found in the lower regions of the troposphere, where pressures of about 50 bars 5.

For reasons that remain obscure, the planet's thermosphere experiences unusually high temperatures of about K The planet is too far from the Sun for this heat to be generated by ultraviolet radiation, which means another heating mechanism is involved — which could be the atmosphere's interaction with ion's in the planet's magnetic field, or gravity waves from the planet's interior that dissipate in the atmosphere.

Because Neptune is not a solid body, its atmosphere undergoes differential rotation. The wide equatorial zone rotates with a period of about 18 hours, which is slower than the By contrast, the reverse is true for the polar regions where the rotation period is 12 hours. This differential rotation is the most pronounced of any planet in the Solar System, and results in strong latitudinal wind shear and violent storms. The three most impressive were all spotted in by the Voyager 2 space probe, and then named based on their appearances.

The first to be spotted was a massive anticyclonic storm measuring 13, x 6, km and resembling the Great Red Spot of Jupiter. Known as the Great Dark Spot, this storm was not spotted five later Nov. Instead, a new storm that was very similar in appearance was found in the planet's northern hemisphere, suggesting that these storms have a shorter life span than Jupiter's. The Scooter is another storm, a white cloud group located farther south than the Great Dark Spot.

This nickname first arose during the months leading up to the Voyager 2 encounter in , when the cloud group was observed moving at speeds faster than the Great Dark Spot. The Small Dark Spot, a southern cyclonic storm, was the second-most-intense storm observed during the encounter.

It was initially completely dark; but as Voyager 2 approached the planet, a bright core developed and could be seen in most of the highest-resolution images. For reasons that astronomers are still not clear on, the interior of Neptune is unusually hot. In fact, Neptune gives off 2. Even without the Sun, Neptune glows. This high amount of interior heat matched with the coldness of space creates a huge temperature difference. And this sets the winds blasting around Neptune.

That's twice the speed of the strongest hurricanes on Earth. But that's nothing compared to Neptune. Deep down inside Neptune, the planet might have an actual solid surface. But temperatures at this region would be thousands of degrees; hot enough to melt rock. And the pressure from the weight of all the atmosphere would be crushing. In short, there is simply no way one could stand on the "surface of Neptune", let alone walk around on it.

Explore further. The star faded out, then returned to view. Unlike other rings, the arc-like nature meant that the fading did not repeat on the other side of the planet, which puzzled scientist. It wasn't until Voyager imaged the planet in that the mystery of the rings was solved. Neptune has an unusual magnetic field which is tipped on its side in relation to the axis that the planet rotates around.

The strong magnetic field, which is about 27 times more powerful than Earth's, is tipped at a 47 degree angle and is likely powered by the motions inside the mantle itself. These motions also drive strong winds and unusual weather patterns in Neptune's atmosphere. Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community space. Nola Taylor Tillman is a contributing writer for Space.

She loves all things space and astronomy-related, and enjoys the opportunity to learn more. This switch, in which Pluto is closer to the Sun than Neptune, happened most recently from to Pluto can never crash into Neptune, though, because for every three laps Neptune takes around the Sun, Pluto makes two.

This repeating pattern prevents close approaches of the two bodies. This means that Neptune experiences seasons just like we do on Earth; however, since its year is so long, each of the four seasons lasts for over 40 years.

Neptune has 14 known moons. Neptune's largest moon Triton was discovered on October 10, , by William Lassell, just 17 days after Johann Gottfried Galle discovered the planet. Since Neptune was named for the Roman god of the sea, its moons are named for various lesser sea gods and nymphs in Greek mythology.

Triton is the only large moon in the solar system that circles its planet in a direction opposite to the planet's rotation a retrograde orbit , which suggests that it may once have been an independent object that Neptune captured. Triton is extremely cold, with surface temperatures around minus degrees Fahrenheit minus degrees Celsius.

And yet, despite this deep freeze at Triton, Voyager 2 discovered geysers spewing icy material upward more than 5 miles 8 kilometers. Triton's thin atmosphere, also discovered by Voyager, has been detected from Earth several times since, and is growing warmer, but scientists do not yet know why. Neptune has at least five main rings and four prominent ring arcs that we know of so far. Starting near the planet and moving outward, the main rings are named Galle, Leverrier, Lassell, Arago, and Adams.

The rings are thought to be relatively young and short-lived. Neptune's ring system also has peculiar clumps of dust called arcs. The arcs are strange because the laws of motion would predict that they would spread out evenly rather than stay clumped together. Scientists now think the gravitational effects of Galatea, a moon just inward from the ring, stabilizes these arcs.

Neptune took shape when the rest of the solar system formed about 4. Like its neighbor Uranus, Neptune likely formed closer to the Sun and moved to the outer solar system about 4 billion years ago.

Neptune is one of two ice giants in the outer solar system the other is Uranus. Of the giant planets, Neptune is the densest. Scientists think there might be an ocean of super hot water under Neptune's cold clouds. It does not boil away because incredibly high pressure keeps it locked inside. Neptune does not have a solid surface. Its atmosphere made up mostly of hydrogen, helium, and methane extends to great depths, gradually merging into water and other melted ices over a heavier, solid core with about the same mass as Earth.

Neptune's atmosphere is made up mostly of hydrogen and helium with just a little bit of methane. Neptune's neighbor Uranus is a blue-green color due to such atmospheric methane, but Neptune is a more vivid, brighter blue, so there must be an unknown component that causes the more intense color.

Neptune is our solar system's windiest world.