Decrease font size Increase font size Print this page Français

Encyclopedia > Neptune > Satellites > Nereid

NEREID : SATELLITE II OF NEPTUNE 



Nereid, observed in a rich star field.
Credit : Observatory of Rio de Janeiro/CNPQ


Characteristics Values
distance from Neptune  5 513 000 km 
average size  340 km 
visual magnitude  18.7
revolution period 360.135 days
inclination of the orbit 
on the Neptune's equator		 6.68°
eccentricity of the orbit 0.751
density (water=1) 1.0

Nereid (Neptune II) was discovered by Kuiper in 1949. Its revolution period is 360 days. 

The eccentricity of the orbit of Nereid is very large: the orbit is an elongated ellipse, as the most eccentric orbits of the satellites of Jupiter's family "Pasiphae".

Origin of the name : click here.