On September 11, 2020, Neptune reaches opposition, when it is 180 degrees from the sun in our sky. In other words, Earth passes more or less between Neptune and the sun, as we do every year in our yearly orbit. Also, on September 11, Earth and Neptune are closest together for the year.
By closest, we don’t mean close. Neptune, the eighth planet outward from the sun, lodges in the outskirts of our solar system. Its current distance is about approximately 2.7 billion miles (4.3 billion km).
For any superior planet – that is, for any solar system planet beyond Earth’s orbit – opposition is a special event. When any planet outside of Earth’s orbit is at or near opposition, Earth comes closest to that planet for the year, and that planet, in turn, shines most brightly in our sky. Even at opposition, however, Neptune, the eighth planet, is not bright. In fact, Neptune is the only major solar system planet that’s absolutely not visible to the unaided eye. This world is about five times fainter than the dimmest star that you can see on an inky black night. You’ll need binoculars (at least) and a detailed sky chart to see Neptune in front of the constellation Aquarius.
Today's Neptune rise, transit and set times from Hong Kong HCW (HK) are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Asia/Hong_Kong):
Neptune rise and set times
Location: Hong Kong HCW (HK)
Latitude: 22° 16’ 41” N
Longitude: 114° 10’ 28” E
| RISE Azimuth: 95.3° |
18:31 |
| TRANSIT Max altitude: 62.4° |
0:20 |
| SET Azimuth: 264.7° |
6:10 |
Aquarius / みずがめ座
2020年9月12日 海王星がみずがめ座で衝
(光度：7.8等、視直径：2.3″)
宵のころ南東の空に見えているみずがめ座に位置する海王星が、9月12日に衝となる。太陽—地球—海王星がまっすぐに並び、一晩中見える時期だ。
明るさは約8等級で、空が暗ければ双眼鏡や小型の天体望遠鏡でも見つけられる。
★外惑星(火星・木星・土星・天王星・海王星)は、「衝」の頃、最も地球に近づき、真夜中にいちばん高くのぼり、南の空で観察できます。
********************
水瓶座：みずがめざ
衝：しょう
宵：よい
双眼鏡：そうがんきょう
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