This is an image of Neptune.
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NASA

An Overview of Neptune's Atmosphere

Neptune's atmosphere shows a striped pattern of clouds. This cloud pattern is very similar to that of Jupiter and Saturn. Neptune even has a Great Dark Spot similar to Jupiter's Great Red Spot.

The structure of Neptune's atmosphere, as on Earth, consists of a troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.

The evolution of Neptune's atmosphere is similar to that of the other Giant planets. The composition of Neptune clouds is thought to be methane crystals.

Motions in the cloud patterns give clues about Neptune's meteorology, which is similar to that of Jupiter and Saturn.


Last modified April 22, 2009 by Randy Russell.

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