Naiad (moon)

Naiad is the innermost known moon of Neptune. It is a small, irregularly shaped object that orbits Neptune very closely.

Discovery and Naming

Naiad was discovered in 1989 by the Voyager 2 spacecraft during its flyby of Neptune. The discovery was announced on September 29, 1989. It is named after the Naiads, water nymphs in Greek mythology. The provisional designation at the time of discovery was S/1989 N 6.

Physical Characteristics

Naiad is one of Neptune's smaller moons. Its average diameter is estimated to be around 66 kilometers (41 miles). Due to its small size and distance, its shape is not precisely known, but it is thought to be highly elongated or irregular, rather than spherical. Its surface is likely composed of water ice, darkened by radiation processing and meteoroid impacts over time.

Orbit

Naiad orbits Neptune within the planet's ring system. It has a prograde, near-circular orbit that is inclined about 4.75° to Neptune's equator. Naiad orbits within Neptune's Roche limit, suggesting that tidal forces are slowing its orbit. Eventually, it is predicted to either impact Neptune's atmosphere or break up to form a new ring system. Naiad's orbital period is approximately 7 hours and 6 minutes.

Exploration

Naiad has only been observed closely by the Voyager 2 spacecraft during its brief flyby. No future missions are currently planned to explore Neptune and its moons in detail. As such, much remains unknown about Naiad's composition, surface features, and origin.