Neptune

Latest about Neptune

a planet orbits close to its star, causing its atmosphere to dissolve away
Newly discovered 'mini-Neptune' may have an ocean or an atmosphere - but not for long

By Robert Lea Published

A newly discovered distant mini-Neptune planet may possess its own atmosphere, ocean, or a combination of the two, even if they don't last for long.

Neptune
An illustration of the night sky on Feb. 14 showing the close approach of Venus and Neptune.
Watch Venus snuggle up to Neptune for Valentine's Day tonight

By Robert Lea Published

On Tuesday (Feb. 14), Venus and Neptune will join together in the night sky, and the pair will share an arrangement known as a conjunction the next day.

Neptune
view of Neptune from the surface of Triton, Neptune's largest moon. The bright blue orb of Neptune can be seen in the distance.
Neptune moons: Facts about the elusive moons of the Neptunian system

By Elizabeth Howell, Daisy Dobrijevic Last updated

Reference Explore all 16 of Neptune's moons along with their names and dates of discovery. The Neptunian system hosts some very strange and elusive moons.

Reference
Artist's illustration of Space Perspective's Spaceship Neptune high above Earth.
All aboard the Spaceship Neptune: Flying to the edge of space on a balloon

By Andrew May Last updated

Reference Spaceship Neptune will launch from NASA's iconic Kennedy Space Center in Florida and send passengers just below the Karman line.

Reference
An illustration of the night sky on Friday (Sept. 16) showing Neptune at opposition.
See elusive planet Neptune in opposition tonight (Sept. 16)

By Robert Lea Published

Located at the outer edge of the solar system, the distant planet Neptune will make its closest approach to Earth on Friday, when it will be visible in opposition to the sun all through the night.

Neptune
An artist's illustration of a Neptune-sized exoplanet orbiting a blue A-type star.
Rare Neptune-size exoplanets may face solar superstorms from parent stars

By Robert Lea Published

Despite astronomy's success in detecting worlds outside the solar system, there is a troubling gap in the exoplanet catalog. New research may show why Neptune-sized exoplanets are tough to locate.

Neptune
Graphic showing Neptune's change of course as it moves across the night sky.
Planet Neptune will go into reverse as it moves in the sky on Tuesday

By Daisy Dobrijevic Published

Neptune will enter retrograde on Tuesday (June 28) and will appear to 'reverse its course' as it moves across the sky. Here's how to see it.

Neptune
An image of Neptune taken by the Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory (on the right) and one captured by the Hubble Space Telescope (on the left).
Neptune is cooling down and scientists don't know why

By Tereza Pultarova Published

Two decades worth of observations revealed unexpected cooling of the solar system's most distant planet Neptune amid astronomical summer.

Neptune
Artist's impression of Kuiper Belt objects.
Cosmic objects with strange orbits discovered beyond Neptune

By Stephanie Pappas Published

A six-year search of space beyond the orbit of Neptune has netted 461 newly discovered objects, including four that could shed light on Planet Nine.

Neptune
The planet Neptune.
Neptune reaches opposition today: How to see the distant planet

By Samantha Mathewson Published

The solar system's outermost planet, Neptune, reaches opposition today, and here's how you can catch a glimpse of the distant gas giant.

Neptune
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