A swirling storm

The dark, vortex-like “dark spots” seen on Neptune’s surface appear due to massive storms (high-pressure systems) that occur in its atmosphere. They are similar to typhoons on Earth and are considered phenomena characteristic of gas giants. Their size is said to be roughly comparable to that of Earth.

blue

Neptune is covered by layers of gases such as methane, hydrogen, and helium. Methane absorbs red light and has the property of scattering blue light. Sunlight contains both red and blue light, but because the red light is absorbed and only the blue light is reflected back, Neptune appears a deep blue when viewed from the outside.

Diamond

In Neptune’s atmosphere, methane is thought to break down under high pressure and temperature, causing carbon to crystallize into diamonds that fall like rain. This phenomenon is not seen on Earth and is a unique marvel of the cosmos.

Neptune

The English name for 海王星 is “Neptune.” It is said to derive from the name of the Roman god of the sea (Neptunus).

the year 1846

Neptune was discovered on September 23, 1846, by Germany’s Johann Gottfried Galle based on calculations by French astronomer Urbain Le Verrier and British astronomer John Couch Adams. Two hundred thirty-four years earlier, in 1612, Galileo Galilei observed Neptune and recorded it, but it was not recognized as a planet at the time.

Uninhabitable

Neptune is composed of ice and gas and has no solid surface. Because it is located far from the Sun, it experiences extremely cold temperatures and strong winds. Therefore, humans cannot live there, and it will likely remain difficult to inhabit in the future.

about 16 hours

It completes one rotation in about 16 hours due to Neptune’s rotation. Since Neptune spins faster than Earth, its day is shorter than a day on Earth.