Neptune approaches opposition.

The planet Neptune will reach opposition (i.e. be directly opposite the Sun seen from Earth) on 0.08 am GMT on Saturday 21 September 2024. 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 shortly after the Full Moon on 18 September in the constellation of Auriga, the prospects for viewing somewhat limted this year. The planet will be in the constellation of Pisces and at its highest point in the sky at about midnight local time from anywhere on Earth. 

The relative positions of the Earth and the planets of the Outer Solar System on 21 September 2024.  JPL Small Body Database. 

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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Planet Neptune approaches opposition.

The planet Neptune will reach opposition (i.e. be directly opposite the Sun seen from Earth) on Tuesday 19 September 2023 at 11.09 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 shortly after the New Moon on 15 September, the prospects for viewing for those equipped with suitable telescopes is fairly good. The planet will be in the constellation of Pisces and at its highest point in the sky at about midnight local time from anywhere on Earth.

The relative positions of the Earth and the planets of the Outer Solar System on 19 September 2023.  JPL Small Body Database. 

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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Neptune at opposition.

The planet Neptune will reach opposition (i.e. be directly opposite the Sun seen from Earth) on Friday 16 September 2022 at 10.12 pm 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 the day before the Third Quarter Moon (i.e. the day on which the Moon is half full following a Full Moon) on 17 September, 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 the Earth and the planets of the Outer Solar System on 16 September 2022.  JPL Small Body Database. 

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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Neptune reaches oposition.

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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Neptune reaches Solar Conjuntion.

The planet Neptune will reach Solar Conjunction (i.e. be directly on the other side of the Sun from the Earth) at  1.02.am GMT on Thursday 7 March 2019. This means that it will both be at its furthest from the Earth this year, about 30.93 AU (30.93 times the average distance between the Earth and the Sun, or about 4 627 000 000 km), and while not completely obscured by the Sun, due to differences in the tilts of the orbits of Earth and Neptune, it will be close enough to the Sun to be invisible for several weeks.

 The relative positions of Neptune and Earth at Solar Conjunction (not to scale). Bob's Spaces.

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 Solar Conjunction only four days later each year than the year before, and reaches opposition (when it is directly opposite the Sun seen from the Earth), roughly six months later.

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Neptune reaches opposition.

The planet Neptune will reach opposition (i.e. be directly opposite the Sun seen from Earth) on Friday 7 September 2018. 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 two days before the New Moon, the prospects for viewing for those equipped with suitable telescopes is quite good.

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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Neptune reaches Solar Conjunction.

The planet Neptune will reach Solar Conjunction (i.e. be directly on the other side of the Sun from the Earth) at  1.56 pm GMT on Sunday 4 March 2018. This means that it will both be at its furthest from the Earth this year, about 30.94 AU (30.94 times the average distance between the Earth and the Sun, or about 4 629 000 000 km), and while not completely obscured by the Sun, due to differences in the tilts of the orbits of Earth and Neptune, it will be close enough to the Sun to be invisible for several weeks.

 The relative positions of Neptune and Earth at Solar Conjunction (not to scale). Bob's Spaces.

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 Solar Conjunction only four days later each year than the year before, and reaches opposition (when it is directly opposite the Sun seen from the Earth), roughly six months later.

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