Triton is the largest natural satellite of the planet Neptune. It is the only moon of Neptune massive enough to be rounded under its own gravity and hosts a thin, hazy atmosphere. Triton orbits Neptune in a retrograde orbit—revolving in the opposite direction to the parent planet's rotation—the only large moon in the Solar System to do so.

Nov 3, 2024 · Triton is the largest of Neptune's 13 moons. It is unusual because it is the only large moon in our solar system that orbits in the opposite direction of its planet's rotation―a retrograde orbit. Scientists think Triton is a Kuiper Belt Object captured by Neptune's gravity millions of …

Triton rotates once on its axis as it orbits the planet. It keeps the same face toward Neptune at all times. Triton will wander too close to Neptune in its orbit in about 3.5 billion years, and the gravitational pull of the planet will break Triton up.

Triton is the largest of Neptune's 13 moons. It is unusual because it is the only large moon in our solar system that orbits in the opposite direction of its planet's rotation―a retrograde orbit. Scientists think Triton is a Kuiper Belt Object captured by Neptune's gravity millions of years ago.

6 days ago · Triton is unique among the large moons of the solar system in that it moves in a retrograde orbit —i.e., one that is opposite the direction of Neptune’s rotation. Its mean orbital distance is about 354,800 km (220,500 miles) from the planet.

Sep 15, 2023 · Despite its irregularity, Triton's orbit is surprisingly circular — in fact, one of the most perfectly circular orbits out of all the objects in the solar system.

Triton orbits Neptune every 141 hours. Triton also rotates once per orbit, so that the same side always faces Neptune. Triton is unique because it is the only large moon that has a retrograde orbit, an orbit opposite of the planet’s rotation.

The orbit of Triton (red) is different from most moons' orbit (green) in the movement's direction, and the orbit is tilted. Triton compared to the Earth and the Moon. Triton , or Neptune I , is the largest moon of the planet Neptune .

Triton may have escaped catastrophe when it arrived at Neptune, but it is still facing a grim future: Its retrograde orbit means Neptune’s gravity is slowly pulling it towards the planet. Millions of years from now, gravitational forces will break Triton apart, possibly forming a new Neptunian ring.

Triton is the largest moon of the planet Neptune, discovered on October 10, 1846, by English astronomer William Lassell. It is the only large moon in the Solar System with a retrograde orbit, which is an orbit in the opposite direction to its planet's rotation. At 2,700 km in diameter, it is the...