Despina (moon)

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/despina-moon

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who discovered Despina (moon)?July 1, 1989
2. What is the type of celestial body?Inner moon of Neptune (Neptune XI)
3. What is the orbital period?8 hours, 57 minutes, 23 seconds
4. What is Despina?Despina is a small, potato-shaped moon that orbits very close to Neptune.
5. How fast does Despina orbit Neptune?It takes about 8 hours and 57 minutes for Despina to complete one orbit around Neptune.

Hydrostatic Equilibrium: The balance between gravitational force and internal pressure that makes a celestial body spherical.
Tidal Forces: Differential gravitational forces exerted by a celestial body on another, causing stretching or compression.
Shepherd Moon: A small moon whose gravity helps to confine particles within a planetary ring, maintaining its structure.
Magnetosphere: The region surrounding a planet where its magnetic field is the dominant force.