_otd-in-space-may-1-neptune39s-moon-nereid-discovered.jpg "OTD In Space – May 1: Neptune's Moon Nereid Discovered from greek kos Video Screenshot Preview")
GalleryPlay Video:
(Note: The default playback of the video is HD VERSION. If your browser is buffering the video slowly, please play the REGULAR MP4 VERSION or Open The Video below for better experience. Thank you!)
⏲ Duration: 1:9
👁 View: 410K times
✓ Published: 02-May-2024
👁 View: 410K times
✓ Published: 02-May-2024
Description:
On May 1, 1949, Neptune's moon Nereid was discovered by the Dutch astronomer Gerard Kuiper.<br/><br/>This was the second of 14 moons discovered at Neptune. It was also the last one to be discovered with certainty before NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft flew by Neptune in 1989. Astronomers suspected they had observed a third moon before, but it wasn't actually seen until the Voyager 2 mission. Kuiper spotted Nereid using an 82-inch reflector telescope at the McDonald Observatory in Texas. He decided to name it after the sea nymphs in Greek Mythology. Neptune was the Roman god of the sea, so Kuiper stuck with the nautical theme when he chose this name. Despite years of astronomical observations, Nereid's exact shape is still a bit of a mystery. Voyager 2 did get some pictures of Nereid, but they were taken from nearly 3 million miles away and were pretty pixelated. However, spectroscopic observations have shown that it has a neutral color and may have water ice on its surface.
On May 1, 1949, Neptune's moon Nereid was discovered by the Dutch astronomer Gerard Kuiper.<br/><br/>This was the second of 14 moons discovered at Neptune. It was also the last one to be discovered with certainty before NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft flew by Neptune in 1989. Astronomers suspected they had observed a third moon before, but it wasn't actually seen until the Voyager 2 mission. Kuiper spotted Nereid using an 82-inch reflector telescope at the McDonald Observatory in Texas. He decided to name it after the sea nymphs in Greek Mythology. Neptune was the Roman god of the sea, so Kuiper stuck with the nautical theme when he chose this name. Despite years of astronomical observations, Nereid's exact shape is still a bit of a mystery. Voyager 2 did get some pictures of Nereid, but they were taken from nearly 3 million miles away and were pretty pixelated. However, spectroscopic observations have shown that it has a neutral color and may have water ice on its surface.
Share with your friends:
Whatsapp | Viber | Telegram | Line | SMS
Email | Twitter | Reddit | Tumblr | Pinterest
_best-of-kos-our-favourite-greek-island-kos-greece-vlog.webp "CJ Explores")
_top-7-things-to-do-on-kos-greece.webp "Sam and Izzy")
_garden-rescue-episode-3-2024.webp "Garden Rescue episode 3 2024 - Yateley: Sisters Julia and Angela have always had a special connection to Crete, an enchanting Greek island that has been a part of their lives since childhood. Even after the loss of their parents, they have continued to make their yearly journey to the island, maintaining a tradition that keeps their family's memories alive and their bond strong.")
_kos-greece-the-ultimate-travel-videos-touchgreece.webp "Robert Polasek - Touch of Greece")
_best-of-kos-our-favourite-greek-island-kos-greece-vlog.jpg)
_top-7-things-to-do-on-kos-greece.jpg)
_garden-rescue-episode-3-2024.jpg)
_kos-greece-the-ultimate-travel-videos-touchgreece.jpg)
![[+]](/images/menu.gif){kind=small}