Facts for Kids

Larissa is a fascinating moon that orbits the giant planet Neptune! 🌌

It was discovered in 1981 and is named after a character in Greek mythology. Larissa is the fifth-closest moon to Neptune and is classified as Neptune VII. The moon is a bit smaller than our own Moon, measuring about 193 kilometers (120 miles) in diameter. Larissa is part of a group of inner moons that helps scientists learn more about Neptune and its system of moons! 🌕

Larissa has some cool surface features! 🎉

Its surface is covered in craters which were formed when rocks hit the moon. Some of these craters might even be really old! Scientists believe the moon is icy, which is exciting because icy surfaces are interesting to study. ❄

️ The surface also seems to have unique patterns, which makes it even more mysterious! Understanding these features helps scientists learn about the history of the moon.

Larissa orbits Neptune at a distance of about 73,000 kilometers (45,000 miles). 🌍

It takes about 5.3 hours to complete one trip around Neptune! That’s super-fast! 🕔

Just like spinning around in circles, Larissa spins on its axis too. It also has an orbit that is very round, which helps it stay close to Neptune. Scientists study this orbit to learn more about how moons and planets interact!

Larissa is named after a character from Greek mythology! 🎭

In mythology, Larissa represents a city and has various tales associated with it. 🌌

This connection to cultural stories adds another layer to our understanding of the moon. Kids often learn about mythology in school, linking science and stories together! Books, movies, and arts frequently reference the wonders of space, including titles that mention Larissa and other celestial bodies, making them a fun topic for discussions!

Larissa was discovered by the Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1989 while it was flying by Neptune. 🚀

Voyager 2 is a space probe that traveled from Earth to explore the outer planets of our solar system. When scientists first saw Larissa, they found it was dark and a little bit shaped like a potato! 🥔

Thanks to Voyager 2, we now know many facts about this unique moon and its place in the cosmos.

The only spacecraft to visit Larissa is Voyager 2. It flew by Neptune in 1989 and took amazing images and data about Neptune and its moons! 🚀

Since then, we have learned so much about Larissa. Even though there haven’t been other missions specifically targeting Larissa, scientists are keen to explore more about it in the future. 🛰

More space missions are being planned, and similar missions could tell us more.

Larissa has a very thin atmosphere that’s hard for us to see! 🌬

️ Most of the time, it can be hardly noticed. This atmosphere consists mostly of hydrogen and nitrogen. 🌌

It’s different from Earth’s atmosphere, which has oxygen that we breathe! Because its atmosphere is so thin, you wouldn’t be able to breathe on Larissa. Scientists study its thin atmosphere to understand how moons and planets change over time!

Larissa is relatively small and has an interesting shape! It’s not perfectly round like a basketball; instead, it looks a bit squished, like an egg. 🥚

Its surface is made up of ice and dark material which makes it look pretty dark! Larissa’s gravity is very weak, which means if you jumped on it, you could float easily! 🌌

This weak gravity allows particles to stick to the surface without being too squished down.

There’s a lot of potential to explore Larissa further! 🌌

Scientists think that discovering more about Larissa could help us understand the icy worlds in our solar system better. The moon could have interesting compositions and features that we haven’t seen yet! 🚀

Future space missions could take a closer look at its craters and icy surface, revealing secrets that help people learn more about Neptune and its moons!

Scientists have big plans for researching Larissa and other moons of Neptune! 🌌

Future telescopes and spacecraft may provide us with even more information. 🚀

Some scientists are especially interested in studying the frozen surface, craters, and atmosphere of Larissa to learn about its history. There might even be future missions dedicated to Neptune's moons! Kids today could be the space explorers of tomorrow, making new discoveries about Larissa! 🌠

Larissa is one of several moons that orbit Neptune! 🌕

Comparing it to its neighbor, Triton, which is much larger, shows just how diverse Neptune's moons are. Triton is about 2,700 kilometers (1,700 miles) in diameter, while Larissa is only about 193 kilometers (120 miles). 🌍

While Triton has a thin atmosphere and active geysers, Larissa is mostly calm with its quiet dark features. This comparison helps scientists study the variety of moons in our solar system.