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Triton is the largest of Neptune's 13 moons. It is unusual because it is the only large moon in our solar system that orbits in the opposite direction of its planet's rotation - a retrograde orbit

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Related Questions

What does the terrain of Pluto look like?

Pluto is thought to resemble Neptune's moon Triton.


Is neptunes moon Triton bigger than mercury?

No Triton is smaller than Mercury but it is bigger than Pluto


Is Triton Neptune's moon bigger than earth?

No it is not. The diameter of Neptune's moon Triton is 2,700 km whereas the diameter of Earth is 12,742 km.


Triton is a moon of which planet?

Triton is the largest moon of the planet Neptune. It is similar in composition and size to Pluto (even a little larger), so is thought to have been a Kuiper belt object that was 'captured' by Neptune many years ago.Triton is the largest moon of the planet Neptune.Triton orbits Neptune, and is the planet's largest moon.


Which motion of Triton suggests that it formed independently of Neptune?

The retrograde orbit. The orbit of Triton is what's known as a retrograde orbit. This means that the moon orbits in the complete opposite direction of the planet's rotation. Triton is the only large moon discovered in our solar system so far that does this. Scientists and astronomers are not sure why this happens. One theory is that the moon condensed this way from original material in the early solar system. Another theory, and the most widely accepted theory, is that Triton was not originally a moon of Neptune, that it was formed elsewhere and was captured by Neptune's gravity. As a matter of fact, the surface features of Triton and the size of Triton are very similar to the dwarf planet Pluto. From time to time, Pluto does cross Neptune's path of orbit, so it is very likely that Triton was either a dwarf planet itself or a moon of Pluto before Neptune's gravity forced it to switch orbits.


Where is the Triton volcano on the moon of Neptune located at?

The Triton volcano is located on Neptune's moon Triton, not on a moon of Neptune. Triton is the largest moon of Neptune and has a variety of geologic features, including cryovolcanoes that are believed to spew out icy materials instead of molten rock.


What planet has a moon that revolves backwards?

One of Neptune's moons, Triton, revolves backwards. The orbit of Triton is what's known as a retrograde orbit. This means that the moon orbits in the complete opposite direction of the planet's rotation. Triton is the only large moon discovered in our solar system so far that does this. Scientists and astronomers are not sure why this happens. One theory is that the moon condensed this way from original material in the early solar system. Another theory, and the most widely accepted theory, is that Triton was not originally a moon of Neptune, that it was formed elsewhere and was captured by Neptune's gravity. As a matter of fact, the surface features of Triton and the size of Triton are very similar to the dwarf planet Pluto. From time to time, Pluto does cross Neptune's path of orbit, so it is very likely that Triton was either a dwarf planet itself or a moon of Pluto before Neptune's gravity forced it to switch orbits.


Is Triton the moon of Neptune?

Triton is the largest of Neptune's 14 known moons.


A planet with a moon called triton?

Triton is the largest moon of Neptune.


What plaNet is Triton on?

Triton is a moon of the planet Jupiter.


What are the largest moons of each planet?

Mercury: None Venus: None Earth: Moon Mars: Phobos Jupiter: Ganymede Saturn: Titan Uranus: Titania Neptune: Triton *Pluto: Charon *Pluto is not a planet but in case your are curious...


Why did Triton become a moon of Neptune?

Because the Roman god Neptune had a Triton as a weapon