History UsefulNotes / TheMoonsOfNeptune

At the moment, the most notable of these moons is W/2021 N1, which has the most distant known orbit of ''any'' moon from its parent planet (possible because of Neptune's ''massive'' [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_sphere Hill sphere]]). It orbits Neptune, on average, more distantly ''than Mercury orbits the Sun''.

At the moment, the most notable of these moons is Neso, which has the most distant known orbit of ''any'' moon from its parent planet (possible because of Neptune's ''massive'' [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_sphere Hill sphere]]). It orbits Neptune, on average, more distantly ''than Mercury orbits the Sun''.

Like UsefulNotes/{{Neptune}} itself, the Roman name of Poseidon, '''Neptune's moons''' are named after [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Greek deities and beings]] associated with water. Only Triton and Proteus have been imaged with enough detail to discern geographical features and only 14 have been discovered so far.

Four small irregular moons imbedded within the ring system of Neptune and which keeps it in check with their gravity. All most likely having been formed by debris created when Triton disrupted Neptune's original satellite system.

The second largest moon of Neptune after Triton, discovered during ''Voyager 2''[='s=] flyby. It's closer in shape to a polyhedron rather than a sphere, measuring roughly 400 kilometers, is heavily cratered and like the other inner moons, most likely formed by debris created by Tritons capture. Though unlike the rest it's not in the immediate threat of breaking up due to being too close to Neptune.

The Other six moons are very small and in mostly retrograde orbits outside of Triton, making them most likely captured Trojans. Expect more to join them soon as we discover more of the Neptunian system.

Unfortunately, thanks to its slow, decaying orbit, Triton is doomed, and likely to be torn apart by Neptune when it gets too close. On the bright side, thanks to its icy composition, there's a chance it will become a gaudy ring system to rival UsefulNotes/{{Saturn}}'s.

The most-well known among {{UsefulNotes/Neptune}}'s moons. Discovered just seventeen days after the planet itself, this moon enjoyed the status of "Neptune's Moon" until the discovery of Nereid in 1949. Alongside our moon, the four Galilean moons of Jupiter, and the Saturnian moon Titan, it is one of the seven large moons in the Solar System. Unlike all of its fellows, it has a retrograde orbit around Neptune; this indicates that Triton must be a captured object, rather than forming from the protoplanetary disc like most moons. Like {{UsefulNotes/the Moon}}, Triton is {{tidally locked|Planet}}, presenting exactly one face to Neptune at all times. Its surface chemical composition mirrors Pluto, sitting at approximately 55% frozen nitrogen, 15–35% water ice, and 10–20% dry ice (frozen CO[[subscript:2]]). Its mantle is actually water, and like [[UsefulNotes/TheMoonsofJupiter Europa]], the possibility of a subterranean ocean exists. The most spectacular aspect of Triton are its cryovolcanic eruptions.

Unfortunately, thanks to its slow, decaying orbit, Triton is doomed, and likely to be torn apart by Neptune when it gets too close. On the bright side, thanks to its icy composition, there's a chance it will become a gaudy ring system to rival UsefulNotes/{{Saturn}}'s. If not, it will collide with Neptune in several billion years.

Like with Saturn, the Neptunian system is dominated by a single large moon in form of Triton but unlike booth it and its brother Uranus it lacks any mid-sized ones. And most of the ones it does have (Triton included) shows signs of having either formed very late in the solar systems lifespan or been captured at some point. The reasons for this might also lie in Triton, as its capture might have disrupted the system to the point that most of Neptune's original moons were destroyed and/or thrown out.

The most-well known among {{UsefulNotes/Neptune}}'s moons. Discovered just seventeen days after the planet itself, this moon enjoyed the status of "Neptune's Moon" until the discovery of Nereid in 1949. Alongside our moon, the four Galilean moons of Jupiter, and the Saturnian moon Titan, it is one of the eight large moons in the Solar System. Unlike all of its fellows, it has a retrograde orbit around Neptune; this indicates that Triton must be a captured object, rather than forming from the protoplanetary disc like most moons. Like {{UsefulNotes/the Moon}}, Triton is {{tidally locked|Planet}}, presenting exactly one face to Neptune at all times. Its surface chemical composition mirrors Pluto, sitting at approximately 55% frozen nitrogen, 15–35% water ice, and 10–20% dry ice (frozen CO[[subscript:2]]). Its mantle is actually water, and like [[UsefulNotes/TheMoonsofJupiter Europa]], the possibility of a subterranean ocean exists. The most spectacular aspect of Triton are its cryovolcanic eruptions.