Neptune in numbers – Infographic

This infographic features an image of Neptune along with a series of facts that highlight some of the differences between Neptune and Earth.  (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)

This infographic features an image of Neptune along with a series of facts that highlight some of the differences between Neptune and Earth.

• A graphic shows that Neptune and Earth orbit the Sun in the same direction.
• The distance from Earth to Neptune ranges from 4.32 to 4.71 billion kilometres depending on their orbits.
• Neptune is 4 times the size of Earth.
• Neptune is 17 times the mass of Earth.
• It takes Neptune 165 Earth years to make one revolution around the Sun.
• It takes Neptune 16 hours in Earth time to complete one rotation on its axis.
• The average temperature on Neptune's “surface” is -201 degrees Celsius. The surface is defined as the layer of its atmosphere where the pressure is the same as it is on Earth's surface.
• Neptune is an ice giant and densest of the giant planets. Its atmosphere is hydrogen and helium with a little methane. Beneath the atmosphere Neptune has a mix of slushy water, methane and ammonia around a rocky core.
• Neptune is the windiest planet with clouds of frozen methane that travel at speeds up to 2,000 kilometres per hour, which is three times stronger than Jupiter's winds.
• Neptune has 14 moons. The largest moon, Triton, orbits retrograde in the opposite direction of Neptune's rotation.
• Neptune is the only planet in our solar system discovered using math. Its position was predicted using disruptions observed in Uranus's orbit.