Proteus
Proteus information
Average distance
from
Neptune
:
117650 km (0.0008
AU
)
Equatorial radius
:
220 x 208 x 202 km (
Diameter
: 440 km)
Mass
:
50000000000000000000 kg
Siderial orbit period (length of year)
:
1.122315 earth days
Orbital eccentricity
:
0.0004
Orbital inclination to ecliptic
:
0.55 degrees
Proteus, Neptune VIII
Proteus
Proteus was a sea god who could change his shape at will.
Discovered in 1989 by Voyager 2. Though it is larger than Nereid, it was not discovered earlier because it is very dark and so close to Neptune that it is difficult to see in the glare of the much brighter planet.
Proteus is irregular (non-spherical) in shape. Proteus is probably about as big as an irregular body can be before its gravity pulls it into a more spherical shape.
The heavily cratered surface shows no signs of geologic activity.
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Discovered by S. Synnott (Voyager 2) in 1989
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