Does Neptune Have Any Moons?
Neptune has thirteen moons–Triton, Nereid, Naiad, Thalassa, Despina, Galatea, Larissa, Proteus, Halimede, Psamathe, Loamedeia, Sao, and Neso. Neptune was named for the Roman god of the sea, and its moons have been named for other sea gods and sea nymphs.
Triton – Neptune’s Largest Moon
Triton, the largest of Neptune’s thirteen moons, was discovered on October 10, 1846, just after Neptune’s initial discovery. Neptune was named for the Roman god of the sea, and its moons have been named for other sea gods and sea nymphs.
Additional Moons Discovered
Nereid was discovered in 1949 by Gerard P. Kuiper. Six additional moons were discovered during space exploration in 1989. It was not until 2002 and 2003 that all thirteen moons were finally discovered. Scientists found the last of the moons with ground telescopes. Neso and Psamathe are two moons that are millions of kilometers away from Neptune and still gravitate around the planet. No other moon in our solar system orbits its planet at such a great distance.
