Universe & space

Discovery of Psamathe

29 August 2003

Psamathe is one of the outermost known moons of Neptune, a small irregular body that orbits the planet at an enormous distance, with a period of roughly a quarter of a century. It travels in a retrograde direction, opposite to Neptune's rotation, and is thought to have been captured long ago. It was discovered by a team of astronomers using large ground-based telescopes. It shares a similar orbit with Neso, another distant moon, which suggests the two may be fragments of a single object. In keeping with the naming rule for Neptune's moons, it is named after a sea nymph from Greek mythology.

Open on the timeline

Before and after

More in Universe & space

The era

This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 21st century.