Nereid
Nereid is a small, icy moon that orbits the planet Neptune. It has a very stretched-out path that makes it swing far away and close in during its trip around Neptune.
A few interesting things
- Nereid has one of the most stretched (eccentric) orbits of any moon, so its distance from Neptune changes a lot.
- It was discovered in 1949 by astronomer Gerard Kuiper.
- Nereid is small and icy (about 340 km across) and can change brightness as it tumbles in space.
A few details
- Diameter: 340 km
- Distance from planet: 5,500,000 km
- Orbit length: 360 days