Neptune’s rings

Definition

Neptune's rings are a system of faint, narrow rings composed primarily of dust and ice particles. They were first confirmed by the Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1989.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Neptune has five main rings named Galle, Le Verrier, Lassell, Arago, and Adams.
2. The rings are thought to be relatively young and short-lived compared to those of other planets.
3. Adams ring contains several arcs or clumps that are denser than the rest of the ring.
4. The rings are composed mainly of small dust particles with a dark material coating, possibly organic compounds.
5. Shepherd moons like Galatea help maintain the structure of Neptune's rings by their gravitational influence.

Review Questions

• What are the names of Neptune's five main rings?
• Which ring contains arcs or denser clumps within it?
• How do shepherd moons affect Neptune's rings?

Related terms

Voyager 2:

A NASA space probe launched in 1977 that provided key data about Neptune's rings during its flyby in 1989.

Shepherd Moon: A moon that helps maintain the shape and structure of planetary rings through gravitational forces.

Planetary Rings:

Rings made up of dust, rock, and ice particles that orbit around planets like Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune.