Neptune

Neptune, the other blue planet, is the eighth planet in our solar system. Neptune is an ice giant.

Related Topics: Uranus, Saturn, Pluto, We Don't Planet 

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Night sky September 2023

See distant Neptune at its brightest in the night sky tonight

By Robert Lea published

The distant ice giant Neptune will be in opposition to the sun with the planet making a close approach to Earth on Tuesday (Sept. 19).

Night sky September 2023

Distant Neptune and Uranus make for excellent night sky sights this week. Here's how to see them

By Joe Rao published

Uranus and Neptune, the two outermost planets of the solar system, make for excellent viewing throughout the end of September. Here's how to locate and view them.

An enhanced view of Neptune's largest moon, Triton.

Why is Neptune's moon Triton so weird?

By Paul Sutter published

The outer solar system contains a striking crime scene with a big mystery: How did Neptune get a moon like Triton?

Four views of Neptune based on different calibrations of the MUSE instrument.

Weird dark spot on Neptune may have a bright spot buddy

By Keith Cooper published

A puzzling bright smudge was captured clinging to this dark spot in Neptune’s atmosphere.

Progression of blue planet become hazier as clouds dissipate

Neptune's clouds have vanished, and the sun may be to blame (video)

By Monisha Ravisetti published

Thanks to the sun's 11-year-long cycle, Neptune might be systematically purged of its clouds.

Rendering of NASA's New Horizons spacecraft.

NASA's New Horizons will investigate Uranus from the rear (Neptune, too). Here's how you can help

By Keith Cooper published

An observing campaign involving New Horizons, the Hubble Space Telescope and perhaps even you is designed to better understand how heat flows through the atmospheres of two ice giants.

colorful wisps of gas in deep space in front of thousands of stars

See amazing images from James Webb Space Telescope's 1st year gazing deep into the cosmos (photos)

By Josh Dinner published

The James Webb Space Telescope, humanity's most powerful eye in the sky, has captured some remarkable images in its first year of gazing deep into the universe.

Telescope images of Neptune's rare red asteroids taken with taken with the Palomar 200-inch, Gemini and Keck telescopes

Rare red asteroids around Neptune could reveal the secrets of the early solar system

By Joanna Thompson published

Scientists have observed that some of Neptune's Trojan asteroids are deep red, possibly revealing what asteroids may have been like in the early days of the solar system.

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.

A Voyager 2 image of Neptune's largest moon, Triton, in 1989.

Wild mission concepts would melt into icy moons, surf on sunlight to the ice giants, and more

By Briley Lewis published

From the nearby moon to distant Triton, planetary scientists have a plethora of ideas for how to explore our solar system.

virtual telescope project images of planets and stars in december 2022

See the rare 'planet parade' of 5 naked-eye planets in these photos by an astronomer

By Elizabeth Howell published

Clear skies beckoned Wednesday (Dec. 28) in Rome, allowing the Virtual Telescope Project's Gianluca Masi to get busy with a year-end broadcast.

The James Webb Telescope's image of Neptune, the distant ice giant.

James Webb Space Telescope captures stunning image of Neptune's rings and moons

By Robert Lea last updated

Located at the outer edge of the solar system Neptune has fascinated astronomers since its discovery. Now the James Webb Space Telescope has provided a stunning image of unrivaled detail.

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.

The full moon rises over the Bondi Beach in Sydney on September 21, 2021.

September full moon 2023 guide: The Super Harvest Moon joins Jupiter and Saturn

By Jesse Emspak last updated

The full moon tends to overwhelm the fainter stars. But in the late September sky there are still constellations that can be seen despite the brightness of both the moon and city lights.

An artist's depiction of one of the twin Voyager spacecraft exploring interstellar space.

Celebrate NASA's Voyager missions at 45 with this free webcast tonight

By Tariq Malik published

The Voyager missions are icons of cosmic exploration, and you can celebrate their 45th anniversary with a free webcast tonight (Aug. 18).

A composite image of Uranus (left) and Neptune based on Hubble Space Telescope observations.

James Webb Space Telescope will heat up studies of our solar system's 'ice giants'

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has a blue-eyed special among its solar system observations.

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.

This image of the planet Uranus was taken by the spacecraft Voyager 2 in 1986.

Shades of Uranus: Scientists know why the planet and Neptune are different hues of blue

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

The way each planet's atmosphere responds to methane might be responsible for the different hues of Uranus and 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.

The four gas giants of our solar system are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are collectively known as Jovian planets, meaning “Jupiter-like”.

Gas giants: Jovian planets of our solar system and beyond

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

Reference The solar system gas giants – Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune – also known as Jovian planets are helping us learn more about gaseous exoplanets.