The Planets

Neptune

When Neptune is high in the night sky it hovers at the edge of visibility through 10x50 binoculars (approximately magnitude +7.8) in moderately light polluted skies. On one clear evening in August '98 I was able to detect it through binoculars from my home, where the limiting magnitude (through binoculars) is normally between magnitude 6 and 7. Even with ideal conditions Neptune isn't an easy object to find, but locating it is one of my favorite observing accomplishments. I got really excited when I located it for the first time (with my 4½" scope). It can be observed from moderately light polluted sites, and of course, it's easier from a dark site. The challenge is picking it out from the background stars. You need charts that go to at least magnitude 8 and to observe it over several nights to identify the "star" that moves. In 2005, Neptune is in the constellation Capricorn and will be viewable from late spring through the fall.

 

 

Updated on 2005-03-03