Thalassa (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/thalassa-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. What is the designation?Neptune III
2. What is the parent planet?Neptune
3. What is Thalassa and why is it called a "speedy little moon"?Thalassa is a small, irregularly shaped moon of Neptune that orbits very quickly, completing a full circle in about 7.5 hours, which is why it’s described as “speedy.”
4. How big is Thalassa compared to other moons of Neptune?Thalassa is about 108 by 101 by 76 kilometers across, with an average diameter of 82 km, making it much smaller than Neptune’s larger, round moons.

Triaxial Shape: A shape with three unequal axes, characteristic of many small celestial bodies.
Tidal Forces: Gravitational forces exerted by a celestial body that cause stretching or compression.
Orbital Resonance: A periodic relationship between the orbital periods of two bodies, influencing their gravitational interactions.
Comparative Planetology: The study of planets by comparing their characteristics to understand their formation and evolution.