Serda Aydemir

Serda Aydemir

School: Çanakkale Özel Anadolu Lisesi

Class: 11

Teacher: Ayşe Gül Coşkun

Topic: Triton


"Abstract: Space studies began in the world when the Soviet Union sent the first man-made object to space on October 4, 1957. These studies have gained importance in order to understand the universe- human relationship. The curiosity that there may be another form of life has developed in a place other than the planet we live on, Earth. As a result of the data obtained by the Voyager 2 spacecraft, the satellite of the planet Neptune offers us the opportunity to satisfy our curiosity. Due to its interesting geological structure and physical similarity between Earth and Moon, the Triton satellite needs to be examined.

Keywords: Voyager 2, Triton, space

Artist's rendering of Voyager 2 and Triton
Introduction
The fine atmosphere of Triton, the satellite of the planet Neptune, has a continuous nitrogen surface containing a small amount of carbon monoxide and methane. According to the data of the Voyager 2 spacecraft, the surface of Triton has a young structure. Active volcanic activities are observed. It has 55% frozen nitrogen, 15-35% water ice and 10-20% frozen CO2 on its surface. The rocks under its surface are thought to protect an underground ocean. The force Neptune exerts on the unit mass in Triton is 21.87 times the force the Earth exerts on the unit mass on the Moon. This dynamic makes Triton more dynamic than the Moon.

The Promising Data
The planet Neptune locked Triton into orbit. The force formed as a result of this physical condition provides the formation of tidal actions in Triton. As a result of tidal actions, water ice layers can be broken and the lower ocean structure under the rocks may remain active. Nitrogen geysers formed as a result of ice cracks on the surface of Triton have the quality to support this view. Active volcanic activities seen in Triton prove that there is a high energy in the satellite. The appearance of tholin formations on its surface is an indication that there may be favorable conditions for a life form on the satellite.

The Studies to Get More Data
Information about the Triton satellite has been obtained by the Voyager 2 spacecraft only acquiring data from one face of Triton. We need to collect more data to reduce our question marks about Triton and prove our theories. A new study should be carried out in Triton with a spacecraft with detectors that can perform chemical analysis, view underground objects and examine ice floes on the surface.

Conclusion
As a result of the geological and chemical data obtained, we doubt that there may be suitable conditions for a life form in Triton. In order to end our doubts, we must collect data that can answer our question marks with a more advanced spacecraft."

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