Despina

Despina was discovered by the Voyager 2 spacecraft on July 1, 1989, during its close encounter with Neptune. Named after a sea nymph from Greek mythology, this inner moon orbits Neptune at an average distance of approximately 52,526 kilometers from the planet's center. It is characterized by its relatively small size, with an estimated diameter of about 148 kilometers, and an irregular shape common among small moons. Despina is intriguing due to its near-synchronous orbit with Neptune, completing one orbit roughly every 8 hours and 34 minutes, resulting in gravitational interactions that help maintain its orbital stability. It is believed to be a captured object, potentially originating from the Kuiper Belt or asteroid belt.