Last week, we discussed the possibility of life on Jupiter and found it to be a fairly inhospitable place, at least by Earth standards. Though, that's assuming you could get used to walking in Triton's incredibly low gravity, which is about 8 percent of Earth's gravity, or half of the moon's gravity. Although, with nearly zero sunlight, your days and nights are both permanently pitch black. Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! The discovery was made on October 10, 1846, by English astronomer William Lassell.It is the only large moon in the Solar System with a retrograde orbit, an orbit in the direction opposite to its planet's rotation. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Complex weather and chemical composition in your atmosphere is to blame. 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Triton, the largest moon of Neptune, has a retrograde orbit (which means Triton orbits or moves the opposite way from how Neptune spins).. Two moons, Psamathe (discovered in 2002) and Neso (discovered in 2003), are unusual because they have the largest orbits for any moons discovered in the solar system so far. Basically, if you left Earth upon retiring at 65-years-old, you are now less than one-year-old (queue Frank Sinatra’s “You Make Me Feel So Young”). There was a problem. But, the dome will require tremendous strength to shelter you from deadly winds. This image of Triton was taken by NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1989. On the bright side, your new typical work day is five hours. First predicted in 1781 by using only math, Neptune is a distant ice giant. Follow Joseph Castro on Twitter. Have you often wished, “if only the holiday seasons were 300 degrees colder?” Do you sometime say, “I wish this year would last for 60,000 days! However, let’s use our imagination and pretend that we have the tools needed to inhabit Neptune. Actually, in 2011 your planet completed only its first orbit since its discovery in 1846. Now, it is believed that liquid water may exist far below Neptune’s surface. Are Northface or Patagonia having any sales? Neptune is now known to have at least 14 moons, but only one of those moons, Triton, is large enough to be spherical. (Image credit: By Karl Tate, Infographics Artist). And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com. Ultimately, captured by Neptune, Triton once wandered aimlessly through the solar system. The planets of the outer solar system are known for being strange, as are their many moons. But, with recorded wind speeds of 1,500 miles per hour, you keep a safe distance. Dutch-American astronomer Gerard Kuiper (for whom the Kuiper Belt was named) found Neptune's third-largest moon, Nereid, in 1949. Pluto’s micro size still proves difficult to see. Your email address will not be published. "It would be very much like standing on our moon," Masters said, adding that Triton's weak atmosphere doesn't allow for weather or sky colors. If you lived on Triton, you wouldn't get to enjoy any seasonal effects to temperature. What's more, Triton's orbit around its planet is inclined, so if you were on the side of the moon that always faces Neptune, you would get a view of not just Neptune's equatorial region, but also its northern polar and southern polar regions. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? Triton is the largest natural satellite of the planet Neptune, and the first Neptunian moon to be discovered. And, that ain’t much! Interestingly, Triton didn't form along with its parent planet, and was likely an object that Neptune captured. What is the Hottest Planet in the solar system? The answer is pretty simple to fathom as both the planet’s are water world, there might be a possibility of carbon based life to form. Made of ever-changing and horrific storm systems, your planet is one gigantic hurricane. Please refresh the page and try again. However, you now move quite sluggishly, even for a toddler. Well, living on Neptune is the life for you! So, keep in mind that your Dora the Explorer themed party may seem rather foolish and outdated by then! Text Message to Earth: Takes about 4.3 hrs. "That would be a really slow conversation," Masters said. Also, one of the few currently geologically active moon, Triton has volcanos. Our only close encounter of Neptune happened with Voyager 2 in 1989. Including Triton, your largest moon. Tom Head June 29, 2014 There’s no reason in principle why life couldn’t evolve on a gas giant, but it would have to be some highly unusual life. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer. The resolution is … One single year on your new planet is more than 60,000 Earth-days-long. However, not having solid surfaces means different parts of your planet rotate at varying speeds. Though there are slight winds in Triton's thin atmosphere, you wouldn't feel any breeze while standing on the surface. However, with blood-freezing temperatures, and bone-breaking winds, leaving the house is unlikely. These smooth areas are the result of plumes of dust and nitrogen gas that erupt out of the moon's crust, and then get gently blown around by Triton's tenuous atmosphere. Living on Neptune, your new calendar year will be a massive change. Plus, any “heat” you do enjoy comes from processes in your new world’s interior. Editor's Note: This part of Space.com's 12-part series "Living on Other Planets: What It Would Be Like" to see what an astronaut would see on other planets and moons of our solar system and beyond. Though, still distant, Uranus becomes slightly more visible, especially under such clear, dark skies. Wind speeds on Neptune can reach a frantic 1,500 miles per hour. In other words, even your “breezes” can surpass the speed of sound!