Neptune nearing conjunction

Event Date: January 21st

Time: 6:30 PM

Brief

  Over the last several years, January has been the month that Neptune would make its descent quickly to the horizon during the evening; even at the same time as the Sun or shortly after, depending which decade we are referring to.  Now that the Sun is in western Capricornus while Neptune is in Aquarius, that still doesn't give much time at all to find Neptune, before twilight is not interfering.  Since the Sun will start moving north more quickly over the next month, leading to slightly longer twilight time each week, Neptune will barely be visible even with a telescope by this month's end, and then be out of view until late spring/early summer when it gradually emerges south of the Sun in dark-enough skies to view.

   Take a look at the image below, including the celestial guidelines, reminding us that despite a small separation with the Sun, Neptune is still north of it.

click on images to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

 

Detailed

 Neptune sets 2 hours, 24 minutes after the Sun this evening, while latitudes just north or south of us see it set within that same range: between 2-3 hours.  Whatever the gap is, it is important to realize that the planet is north of the Sun now, yet setting about four minutes earlier each evening; that while the Sun is setting several seconds later every evening.  The result?  Conjunction is not far away, happening in about a month.  Another distant planet sets not long after Neptune while the night is still young, and will also reach conjunction with the Sun during the early part of this year.  Do your recall which one it is...especially if you have read enough of my past Neptune entries over the last few weeks?  I will reveal the answer--or reminder in the case for some--in tomorrow's entry. As a result, I am not labeling it for this image above.