An Overview of Neptune's Atmospheric Composition



This is a drawing which illustrates the composition of Neptune's atmosphere relative to possibilities for other planets.

Click on image for full size version (12K GIF)
The atmosphere of Neptune is very similar to that of Uranus, and unlike that of Saturn and Jupiter. On Jupiter and Saturn, the atmosphere is mostly composed of the simple molecules hydrogen and helium. The atmosphere of Neptune contains a greater percentage of the more complex molecules such as methane gas, ethane gas, acetylene, and diacetylene. These constituents collectively are known as "hydrocarbons".

Hydrocarbons form hazes of smog high in the upper atmosphere. There are clouds of methane ice low in the troposphere.

One of the reasons these molecules are the primary constituents of the atmosphere of Neptune is that Neptune evolved from the more complex hydrocarbons, and ices, rather than solely from hydrogen and helium.


Compare to Jupiter's atmosphere

Return to atmosphere


A Look at what Neptune's Atmosphere is Made of



This is a drawing which illustrates the composition of Neptune's atmosphere relative to other possibilities for planets.

Click on image for full size version (12K GIF)
The atmosphere of Neptune is very similar to that of Uranus, and unlike that of Saturn and Jupiter. On Jupiter and Saturn, the atmosphere is mostly composed of the simple molecules hydrogen and helium. The atmosphere of Neptune contains more of the complex molecules such as methane gas, ethane gas, acetylene, and diacetylene. These constituents collectively are known as "hydrocarbons".

Hydrocarbons form hazes of smog high in the upper atmosphere. There are clouds of methane ice low in the atmosphere.

Neptune's atmosphere originally formed from complex molecules and ice, rather than the simple molecules of which Jupiter and Saturn formed.


Compare to Jupiter's atmosphere

Return to atmosphere


A Look at what Neptune's Atmosphere is Made of



This is a drawing which illustrates the composition of Neptune's atmosphere relative to possibilities for other planets.

Click on image for full size version (12K GIF)
The atmosphere of Neptune is a lot like that of Uranus, and unlike that of Saturn and Jupiter. On Jupiter and Saturn, the atmosphere is mostly made of the simple molecules hydrogen and helium. The atmosphere of Neptune contains much more of a complex molecule called methane.

Neptune's atmosphere originally formed from complex molecules and ice, rather than the simple molecules out of which Jupiter and Saturn formed.


Compare to Jupiter's atmosphere

Return to atmosphere



Last modified November 13, 1997 by the Windows Team

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