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Line 38: − − == Problems for uniformitarian theories posed by this body == − Nereid moves in a highly eccentric orbit that is severely inclined to Neptune's equator, though somewhat less inclined to the local Laplace plane. Almost no astronomer believes that Nereid formed with the planet, and most astronomers believe that Neptune is a captured [[Kuiper Belt]] or other [[Trans-Neptunian objects|trans-Neptunian object]]. Line 49:
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== Orbital characteristics ==
== Orbital characteristics ==
Nereid is in a highly eccentric orbit around Neptune, and in fact its orbit is the most eccentric orbit of any [[solar system]] body.<ref name=Arnett>Arnett, Bill. "[http://www.nineplanets.org/nereid.html Entry for Nereid]." ''The <s>Nine</s> 8 Planets'', May 6, 1995. Accessed June 8, 2008.</ref> Its sidereal month is about 360.14 Julian days.
Nereid is in a highly eccentric orbit around Neptune, and in fact its orbit is the most eccentric orbit of any [[solar system]] body.<ref name=Arnett>Arnett, Bill. "[http://www.nineplanets.org/nereid.html Entry for Nereid]." ''The <s>Nine</s> 8 Planets'', May 6, 1995. Accessed June 8, 2008.</ref> Its sidereal month is about 360.14 Julian days. Nereid is inclined about 28 degrees from Neptune's equator, but is inclined only 7.23 degrees from the local Laplace plane.<ref name=neptunesatfact/> Almost no astronomer believes that Nereid formed with the planet, and most astronomers believe that Neptune is a captured [[Kuiper belt]] or other [[Trans-Neptunian objects|trans-Neptunian object]].<ref name=Tytell>Tytell, David. "[http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/3308056.html?page=1&c=y Neptune's Stowaway]." ''Sky and Telescope'', September 11, 2003. Accessed June 8, 2008.</ref>
== Rotational characteristics ==
== Rotational characteristics ==
== Physical characteristics ==
== Physical characteristics ==
Nereid has a mass of 3.09 * 10<sup>19</sup> kg, the third greatest mass of the moons of Neptune. Its color is neutral-gray. Another moon of Neptune, [[Hallimede]] (formerly S/2002 N 1), has the same neutral color, leading some astronomers to suggest that Hallimede is a fragment of Nereid broken off in a collision with another, unknown object.<ref name=Grav2>Grav, T., Holman M. J., and Fraser W. "[http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0405605 Photometry of Irregular Satellites of Uranus and Neptune]." ''Astrophys. J.'' 613(2004):L77-L80. {{arXiv|astro-ph/0405605v1}} Accessed June 8, 2008.</ref>
Nereid has a mass of 3.09 * 10<sup>19</sup> kg, the third greatest mass of the moons of Neptune. Its color is neutral-gray. Another moon of Neptune, [[Hallimede]] (formerly S/2002 N 1), has the same neutral color, leading some astronomers to suggest that Hallimede is a fragment of Nereid broken off in a collision with another, unknown object.<ref name=Grav2>Grav, T., Holman M. J., and Fraser W. "[http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0405605 Photometry of Irregular Satellites of Uranus and Neptune]." ''Astrophys. J.'' 613(2004):L77-L80. {{arXiv|astro-ph/0405605v1}} Accessed June 8, 2008.</ref>
== Observation and Exploration ==
== Observation and Exploration ==
{{Solarsystem}}
{{Solarsystem}}