Neptune

Neptune Astronomical Location Quadrant Alpha Sector 001 System Sol Physical Characteristic Classification J Surface Gravity 1.14g Rotational Period 16.11 hours Orbital Period 164.79 Earth years Moons Thirteen Additional Information Affiliation Federation Native Race(s) N/A

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Neptune is a Class J planet of little interest to visitors to the Sol System. The most distant gas giant in the system, it is still a sight to behold from space. Neptune's greenish color arises from its atmosphere, which is predominately hydrogen and helium with a mixture of methan, water, and ammonia, and has distinct bands and zones similar to Jupiter. Whitish cirrus-like clouds of methane ice crystals ride high in the atmosphere, some 50-70 km above the main cloud deck. Neptune orbits Sol at an almost constant distance of 30.06 astronomical units, and has a diameter of 50,538 km and a mass of 17.2 earth-masses. Neptune's core is rocky, primarily iron and silicon, and the planet radiates more heat than it absorbs from the sun, implying an internal heat source.

Various satellites orbit the planet, providing telemetry data on incoming and outgoing ships, watching for any signs of incursion, and obtaining data on the Great Dark Spot - a high-pressure storm similar to Jupiter's Great Red Spot - and Neptune's four planetary rings.

Reference(s)

• Isaacs, Ross A., et al. A Cadet's Guide to Sector 001, New York: Last Unicorn Games, 1999.