Neptune Moons

Neptune has 16 known moons. English merchant and astronomer William Lassell discovered the first and largest moon – Triton – on Oct. 10, 1846, just 17 days after a Berlin observatory discovered Neptune.

We don't know if Lassell had a celebratory beverage after he discovered Triton, but beer helped make the finding possible. Lassell was one of 19th century England's grand amateur astronomers. He used the fortune he made in the brewery business to finance his telescopes.

All but two of Neptune's 16 moons have been named. Since Neptune is named for the Roman god of the sea, its moons are named for various lesser sea gods and nymphs in Greek mythology.