In Voyager 2's August 1989 image of Neptune, bright clumps can be see in the planet's otherwise-difficult-to-detect rings. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Key Takeaways:
- Voyager 2's launch occurred on August 20, 1977, initiating a mission that included a flyby of Neptune.
- Neptune's ring system, comprising two prominent and two less-defined rings with bright clumps, was discovered by Voyager 2 and announced by NASA on August 22, 1989.
- Voyager 2 achieved its closest approach to Neptune on August 25, 1989.
- The Neptune flyby provided detailed observations of Neptunian cloud bands, a large storm, several new moons, and close-range imagery of Triton, highlighting its geological activity.
On Aug. 20, 1977, Voyager 2 launched from Cape Canaveral and began its epic journey to the outer planets – and beyond. Twelve years later, the spacecraft photographed Neptune as it approached the ice giant. Two days after that, on Aug. 22, 1989, NASA announced that Neptune had a ring system; the images had revealed two main rings and two fainter ones. The rings had bright clumps but were overall hard to detect, requiring long exposure times and backlighting from the Sun. On Aug. 25, 1989, Voyager 2 made its closest approach to Neptune, revealing cloud band details and a massive storm on the otherwise teal-blue planet. The flyby also revealed new moons and a close-up view of the geologically active moon Triton.
