Naiad is one of the moons of Neptune
The moon Naiad is named after the Naiads of Greek mythology. In Greek mythology, the Naiads were a type of nymphs who were associated with bodies of fresh water, such as springs, rivers, and fountains. They were believed to be the spirits or goddesses of these water sources. The naming of Naiad and other moons of Neptune follows a convention of naming them after characters from Greek and Roman mythology associated with the sea or water.
Discovery: Naiad was discovered by the Voyager 2 spacecraft during its flyby of Neptune in August 1989.
Size and Shape: Naiad has an estimated mean diameter of approximately 66 kilometers (41 miles). It has an irregular shape and is elongated or oblong in appearance.
Orbit: Naiad is an inner moon of Neptune and orbits the planet at an average distance of about 48,227 kilometers (29,947 miles). Its orbit is nearly circular and lies within the rings of Neptune.
Rotation: The rotational period or day length of Naiad is not precisely known.
Composition: Naiad is believed to be primarily composed of water ice, along with some rocky and possibly organic materials. Its surface is likely covered with a layer of ice.
Moon Group: Naiad belongs to a group of seven inner moons of Neptune known as the "Naiad group." The other moons in this group are Thalassa, Despina, Galatea, Larissa, Proteus, and Halimede.
Origin: The exact origin of Naiad is still uncertain. It is believed to have formed from the debris left over after the formation of Neptune and its larger moons.
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Interesting facts: Naiad is the closest moon of Neptune. If you were stand on the surface of Naiad and looking toward Neptune, it would appear as a large, dim planet in the sky due the the distance from the sun.
If Neptune was scaled down to the size of a basketball, The basketball would have to appear 9.45 inches from ones face. This would in tern be equivalent to the size of the view that you will get look at Neptune from the view of the satellite Naiad; Neptune's innermost moon.
