Thalassa
Neptune's innermost four moons are
Neptune also has several tiny distant and unnamed moons which were discovered recently.
) is the innermost of Neptune's known satellites:
orbit: 48,200 km from Neptune
diameter: 58 km
mass: ?
The Naiads were the nymphs who lived in and presided over brooks, springs, and fountains.
The last of the satellites discovered in 1989 by Voyager 2.
Naiad, Thalassa, Despina and Galatea are all irregularly shaped.
Thalassa ("tuh LASS eh") is the second of Neptune's known satellites:
orbit: 50,000 km from Neptune
diameter: 80 km
mass: ?
Thalassa was a daughter of Aether and Hemera. "Thalassa" is also the Greek word for "sea".
Discovered in 1989 by Voyager 2.
Despina is the third of Neptune's known satellites:
orbit: 52,600 km from Neptune
diameter: 148 km
mass: ?
Despina was a nymph, the daughter of Poseidon (Neptune) and Demeter.
Discovered in 1989 by Voyager 2.
Galatea ("gal eh TEE eh") is the fourth of Neptune's known satellites:
orbit: 62,000 km from Neptune
diameter: 158 km
mass: ?
Galatea was a Sicilian Nereid loved by the Cyclops Polyphemus. (Not related to the maiden who was originally a statue carved by Pygmalion and who was brought to life by Aphrodite.)
Discovered in 1989 by Voyager 2.