The Solar System - Word Search - PUZZLE #30 NEREID - August 2025

PUZZLE #30 - NEREID 

IN-CONTEXT WORD DEFINITIONS

Eccentric: Nereid has a highly eccentric orbit, meaning its path around Neptune is very elongated or oval-shaped, causing it to vary greatly in distance from the planet during its orbit.

Triton's Influence: The unusual orbit of Nereid is thought to be influenced by Triton’s strong gravity, which likely perturbed or altered Nereid’s original orbit after Triton was captured by Neptune.

Precession: Precession refers to the slow wobble or change in orientation of Nereid’s orbital ellipse caused by gravitational interactions, including those with Neptune and Triton, affecting the long-term stability of its orbit.

Albedo: Nereid’s albedo is the measure of its surface reflectivity. It has a moderate to low albedo, meaning it reflects a modest amount of sunlight, indicating a surface made of dark or neutral-colored materials.

Silicates: Nereid’s composition likely includes silicates, which are rock-forming minerals made from silicon and oxygen. These minerals contribute to its rocky or icy surface makeup.

Tidal Forces: Tidal forces from Neptune, especially due to the proximity and mass of Triton, affect Nereid’s orbit and rotation, causing stresses and long-term orbital changes.

Periapsis: The periapsis is the point in Nereid’s orbit closest to Neptune. Due to its eccentric orbit, this distance varies widely, contributing to temperature and gravitational differences over its orbit.

Apoapsis: The apoapsis is the point in Nereid’s orbit farthest from Neptune. The large difference between periapsis and apoapsis distances reflects Nereid’s eccentric orbital shape.

Halimede: Halimede is another irregular moon of Neptune. It shares some orbital characteristics with Nereid, and both may be fragments of a larger body disrupted by collisions or gravitational interactions in Neptune’s distant moon system.

Secret Word: Nereid exhibits an unassuming color—neither strongly red nor blue—indicating its surface lacks significant coloration or strong organic or icy deposits that would cause a distinct hue.

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