Crescent Neptune and Triton
Explanation:
Gliding through the outer
Solar
System,
in 1989 the
Voyager 2 spacecraft
looked toward the Sun to find this view of most distant planet Neptune
and its moon
Triton together in a crescent phase.
The elegant image of
ice-giant planet
and
largest moon
was taken from behind just after Voyager's
closest approach.
It could not have been taken from
Earth because the most distant planet never shows a crescent phase
to sunward eyes.
Heading for the
heliopause
and beyond,
the spacecraft's
parting vantage
point also robs Neptune of its familiar
blue hue.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
