The planet Neptune will reach opposition (i.e. be directly opposite the
Sun seen from Earth) on Tuesday 10 September 2019 at 7.10 am GMT. This
means that it will both be at its closest to the Earth this year, about
28.93 AU (28.96 times the average distance between the Earth and the
Sun, or about 4 328 336 000 km), and completely illuminated by the Sun.
While it is not visible to the naked eye observer, the planets have
phases just like those of the Moon; being further from the Sun than the
Earth, Neptune is 'full' when directly opposite the Sun. As this falls
only four days before the Full Moon, the prospects for viewing for those
equipped with suitable telescopes is not as good as it might be. The planet will be in the constellation of Aquarius and at its highest point in the sky at about midnight local time from anywhere on Earth.
The relative positions of Earth and Neptune at opposition. Derekscope.
Neptune orbits the Sun at an average distance of 30.11 AU, completing
one
orbit around the Sun every 165 years. This means that the planet is
almost stationary compared to the faster moving Earth, so that it
reaches Opposition only four days later each year than the year
before, and reaches Solar Conjunction (when it is directly on the
opposite side of the Sun to the Earth), roughly six months later.
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