Ashley Bailey
Grade: 9
School: Nada International School
Teacher: Muhammed Shabbir
City: Hofuf
Topic: Triton
"I believe that NASA should most definitely choose to explore Neptune’s moon, Triton because this particular moon has so many interesting features to explore. For starters, Triton has a highly inclined axis and is the coldest measured object in our Solar System measured with the temperature of -235°C (-391°F). It’s also one of the strangest moons in the Solar System. One is because that this moon has a retrograde orbit- which means that it orbits the opposite way the planet spins- and in synchronous orbit. Secondly, it is one of three moons that actually has an atmosphere. The atmosphere is very thin and hazy. Though its pressure is 1/100,000 of Earth's. And thirdly, it’s only 38°C (100°F) above absolute zero. In these such frigid climates, scientists didn’t expect to find active geysers, but they did. They spew out a gaseous form of nitrogen, which is what creates the atmosphere. This very rocky moon has a polar ice cap at its South Pole and many other geologic features like volcanoes, huge cracks in the surface and geysers of gaseous nitrogen.
Although Triton is located inside the magnetosphere of Neptune- which is very harmful to life- the speculations have altered. But the presence of nitrogen in the atmosphere is believed to be a waste product left behind life forms. That presence in the moon’s atmosphere has made the speculations of the presence of life forms even stronger, provided that the interior is warm enough, that may just be enough for living creatures under the icy surface of the moon. I believe that we should discover more about Neptune’s moon, Triton because it has a lot of interesting artifacts to uncover. If we go and collect some data from this moon, maybe we could find a way to support and sustain life on Triton."
