This is an image of Triton.
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NASA
Global Warming Not Simply Constrained to the Earth
News story originally written on June 26, 1998
Observations taken by the Hubble telescope show that
Neptune's largest moon, Triton, has heated up since 1989. That means global warming isn't something that just happens on Earth.
This increase in temperature is having global effects. One of the main things that this warming does is turn the frozen nitrogen surface of Triton into gas, making its atmosphere thicker. A thicker atmosphere and warmer temperatures increase the chances for life on Triton to exist. But, even with this global warming, Triton is still very cold! Triton's temperature has risen from about -392 degrees Fahrenheit to -389 degrees Fahrenheit.
Studying changes on Triton helps scientists figure out how global warming on Earth happens. "With Triton, we can more easily study environmental changes because of its simple, thin atmosphere," Dr. Elliot of MIT explained. By studying these changes on Triton, the scientists hope to gain new insight into Earth's more complicated environment.
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