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Neptune's 164-year orbital period means that the planet takes an average of 13 years to move through each constellation of the zodiac. In 2011, it completed its first full orbit of the Sun since being discovered and returned to where it was first spotted northeast of Iota Aquarii. [43]
The orbital period (also revolution period) is the amount of time a given astronomical object takes to complete one orbit around another object. In astronomy , it usually applies to planets or asteroids orbiting the Sun , moons orbiting planets, exoplanets orbiting other stars , or binary stars .
Neptune is 17 times the mass of Earth and is slightly more massive than its near-twin Uranus, which is 15 times the mass of Earth and slightly larger than Neptune. [a] Neptune orbits the Sun once every 164.8 years at an average distance of 30.1 astronomical units (4.50 × 10 9 km).
S/2021 N 1 is the smallest, faintest, and most distant natural satellite of Neptune known, with a diameter of around 16–25 km (10–16 mi). It was discovered on 7 September 2021 by Scott S. Sheppard, David J. Tholen, Chad Trujillo, and Patryk S. Lykawka using the 8.2-meter Subaru Telescope at Mauna Kea, Hawaii, and later announced on 23 February 2024. [1]
2002 XV 93 is locked in 2:3 resonance with Neptune, meaning that for every two revolutions it makes around the Sun, Neptune makes exactly three. [ 2 ] The rotation period of this object is currently unknown.
Orbital diagram of the orbital inclination and orbital distances for Neptune's rings and moon system at various scales. Notable moons and rings are individually labeled. Open the image for full resolution. The Neptunian moons are listed here by orbital period, from shortest to longest. Irregular (captured) moons are marked by color.
Clete orbits near Neptune's L 4 Lagrangian point about 60° ahead of Neptune and thus has the about same orbital period as Neptune. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 28.5–31.6 AU once every 164 years and 9 months (60,182 days; semi-major axis of 30.06 AU).
A year has about 365.24 solar days but 366.24 sidereal days. Therefore, there is one fewer solar day per year than there are sidereal days, similar to an observation of the coin rotation paradox. [5] This makes a sidereal day approximately 365.24 / 366.24 times the length of the 24-hour solar day.