images

Sunrise on Triton - Artist view

by

Walter B. Myers/Novapix

Reference

a-nep99-00019

Date

2009-02-12

A diminutive sun rises over Triton's hard and glistening landscape of rock, frozen water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and methane. The little warmth that reaches Triton's surface induces a nitrogen and methane haze, forming a very tenuous atmosphere. It is very cold on Triton with temperatures falling as low as minus 391º F. While as much as 25% of Triton may be composed of water ice, it is very unlikely that there is any liquid water, or life, on this world.