Triton
Major MoonMoon of Neptune

Triton

Neptune's largest moon, a captured Kuiper Belt object with nitrogen geysers.

2,706.8km
Diameter
354,759km
From Neptune
5.9days
Orbital Period
1846
Discovered

About

Triton is the largest moon of Neptune and the seventh-largest moon in the solar system. It is the only large moon with a retrograde orbit, strongly suggesting it was captured from the Kuiper Belt. Triton has active geysers of nitrogen gas and a thin atmosphere.

Properties

2,706.8km
Diameter
354,759km
Semi-major Axis
5.88days
Orbital Period
2.14e22kg
Mass
2.06g/cm³
Density
Yes
Tidally Locked
1846
Discovery Year
William Lassell
Discovered By

Notable Facts

01

Triton is the only large moon in the solar system with a retrograde orbit

02

It has active geysers that shoot nitrogen gas 8 km into the atmosphere

03

Triton is thought to be a captured Kuiper Belt object similar to Pluto

04

Its surface temperature of -235 C makes it one of the coldest objects in the solar system