facts about neptune

Neptune is the eighth and most distant planet from the Sun in our solar system. It is known as the smallest gas giant and the densest of the giant planets, with a mass 17 times that of Earth. Neptune's atmosphere is mainly hydrogen, helium, and methane, which gives it a vibrant blue color by absorbing red light. It has 16 known moons and six faint rings composed of ice and dust particles. Neptune's day is approximately 16 hours long, and its year lasts about 165 Earth years. It experiences some of the strongest winds in the solar system, with speeds reaching over 2,000 kilometers per hour, and has notable large storms such as the Great Dark Spot observed in 1989. Neptune was first observed in 1846 through mathematical predictions based on irregularities in Uranus’ orbit, making it the only planet discovered this way. Only one spacecraft, Voyager 2, has flown by Neptune, providing most of the detailed information we have about the planet.