PIA01491: Neptune and Triton
Neptune and Triton
Target Name: Neptune
Is a satellite of: Sol (our sun)
Mission: Voyager
Spacecraft: Voyager 2
Product Size: 2073 samples x 2678 lines
Produced By: JPL
Producer ID: P34503
Addition Date: 1998-10-30
Primary Data Set: Voyager EDRs
Full-Res TIFF: PIA01491.tif (3.424 MB)
Full-Res JPEG: PIA01491.jpg (287.1 kB)

Click on the image to download a moderately sized image in JPEG format (possibly cropped or reduced in size from original).

Original Caption Released with Image:
This image was returned by the Voyager 2 spacecraft on July 3, 1989, when it was 76 million kilometers (47 million miles) from Neptune. The planet and its largest satellite, Triton, are captured in the field of view of Voyager's narrow-angle camera through violet, clear and orange filters. Triton appears in the lower right corner at about 5 o'clock relative to Neptune. Recent measurements from Voyager images show Triton to be between 1,400 and 1,800 kilometers (about 870 to 1,100 miles) in radius with a surface that is about as bright as freshly fallen snow. Because Triton is barely resolved in current narrow-angle images, it is too early to see features on its surface. Scientists believe Triton has at least a small atmosphere of methane and possibly other gases.

During its closest approach to Triton on August 25, 1989, Voyager should provide high-resolution views of the moon's icy surface and reveal whether Triton's atmosphere has clouds. JPL manages the Voyager Project for NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications.

Image Credit:
NASA/JPL

Image Addition Date:
1998-10-30