Friday, September 20, 2024

Neptune at Opposition (all night)

On Friday night, September 20, Neptune will reach opposition. At that time
the distant planet will be closest to Earth for this year - a distance of "merely" 2.68 billion miles, 4.32 billion km, 4 light-hours, or 28.9 Astronomical Units. At opposition, blue Neptune will shine with a slightly enhanced magnitude of 7.8. Since it will be opposite the sun in the sky, Neptune will be visible all night long in backyard telescopes. Good
binoculars can show it, too, if your sky is very dark - but unfortunately, Neptune will have to share the sky with a very bright moon. Your best views will come after 9 p.m. local time, when the blue planet has risen higher. Around opposition, Neptune's apparent disk size will peak at 2.4 arc-seconds and its large moon Triton will be the most visible. Throughout September, Neptune will be located southeast of the circle of stars that forms Pisces' western fish, and about a thumb's width above the medium-bright star pair 29 and 27 Piscium. Much brighter Saturn will shine 13.5 degrees to the west- southwest of Neptune.

(Data Courtesy of Starry Night)
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