Neptune, the eighth and final planet in our solar system, is a bit tricky to spot because it’s super dim and small. In binoculars, it looks like a tiny star, and in a telescope, it appears as a pale blue-gray orb. While you won’t be able to see any cool features or moons, just witnessing this mysterious, giant world is still an incredible experience.
Now, here’s something interesting: Neptune is super far from the sun, so it moves really slowly across our sky. It takes about 165 years for it to complete one full orbit and 14 years to travel from one zodiac constellation to the next. So, once you find Neptune, you’ll have a good idea of where to look for years to come. Just make sure you have a dark, moonless sky and either a binocular or telescope.
What about Pluto... wasn't it our last planet at one time? Well, it was! Pluto was officially recognized as a planet for 75 years, but now it’s considered a dwarf planet. It’s smaller than Earth’s moon, made mostly of ice, and turns out to be just one of many similar worlds in the super cold outer reaches of our solar system. And guess what? It’s way dimmer than Neptune, making it a real challenge to spot.
* Neptune is in Aquarius until late 2023 (see above).
* Viewing becomes more difficult as it sets earlier each evening throughout the month.
From a very dark, moonless location, use binoculars or a telescope to look for a pale, blue-gray world on the ecliptic at the precise location. No features or moons will be visible but to see this distant world is special.
Neptune (January, 2018)
