19/09/2023
📢Both Neptune and Uranus are currently well placed for viewing in our sky, and with the bright moon now out of the way this week! , it will be a good time to look for them.👌
🔭How to spot Uranus?
Uranus has a magnitude of +5.7 when it comes to how bright it shines, and that makes it pretty dim🌟, considering that the lower the number, the higher the brightness. As Space.com reports, Uranus’ magnitude is at the limit of what’s visible with the naked eye,👀 which means that, in order to see it, you’ll need a very dark sky. This week, you’ll find the planet best during late-evening hours 🌃, and it will be sitting in the constellation of Aries. Around midnight, the planet will appear roughly one-third of the way up from the eastern horizon, and you’ll recognize it by its pale green color. 💚
🔭How to spot Neptune*?
With Neptune, instead, you’ll need an assist from outside. As Space.com points out, the planet has a magnitude of +7.8 (which makes it six times dimmer than Uranus), and even in optimal conditions, it is basically impossible to see it with the naked eye 👀. Plus, it is even smaller than its dim cousin of a planet, which definitely doesn’t help. This, however, doesn’t mean that you’ll need top-of-the-line professional equipment to catch a glimpse of the planet 🛰️. A good pair of binoculars will do the trick , granted that you can locate yourself in a position with a clear, dark sky. This week, Neptune will be located in the constellation of Pisces ✨, at roughly five degrees below the Circlet (a popular asterism in Pisces), almost at the same height as the star 20 Piscium. To recognize it, look for a small and blue-ish shiny object. 💎
Finding an optimal stargazing spot As we mentioned earlier, it is imperative that you find a place where the sky is pretty dark if you want a shot at observing these two planets 🔭. Your best bet is to locate yourself in a dark site or in a place with very low light pollution. 🌃
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