Nereid Facts for Kids

A Picture of Neptune's Moon Nereid
  • Moon Name: Nereid
  • Designation: Neptune II
  • Date Discovered: May 1st, 1949
  • Discovered by: G. Kuiper
  • Average Orbit of Neptune: 3,426,127 mi
  • Total Volume: 4,937,290 mi3
  • Surface Area: 140,219.99 mi2

16 Nereid Facts for Kids

  1. Nereid is one of Neptune’s 14 known moons (natural satellites).
  2. Nereid is named after sea-nymphs in Greek mythology, who were the attendants of the god Neptune.
  3. Nereid is also designated Neptune II.
  4. Nereid was discovered on May 1st, 1949 by Gerard P. Kuiper.
  5. Nereid was discovered using an 82-inch telescope at the McDonald Observatory in Texas.
  6. Nereid was the second moon to ever be discovered orbiting Neptune.
  7. Nereid is classified as an irregular moon.
  8. The average orbit distance for Nereid is 3,426,127.66 mi.
  9. The surface area of Nereid is 140,219.99 mi2.
  10. The total volume of Nereid is 4,937,290.85 mi3.
  11. Nereid orbits the planet Neptune every 360.11 days or every 8,642.64 hours.
  12. Nereid completes a full rotation about every 11.59 hours.
  13. Nereid is the third largest moon of Neptune, based on diameter.
  14. Nereid is the ninth farthest moon from Neptune.
  15. Nereid has the most eccentric orbit for a moon in our Solar System.
  16. The Voyager 2 spacecraft is the only probe to visit and photograph Nereid.

Additional Resources on Neptune’s moon Nereid

  • Learn About Nereid – Read more about Neptune’s moon Nereid on the NASA Solar System Exploration website.
  • Nereid Data and Stats – Find the latest data and statistics of the moon Nereid on the NASA Solar System Exploration website.
  • The Moons of Neptune – Discover more moons of the planet Neptune on the Britannica website.
  • Nereid (Moon) – Wikipedia – Learn more about Nereid, one of Neptunes’s moons, on the Wikipedia website.

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