Neptune today
Neptune is never visible to the naked eye: at magnitude 7.8 it needs binoculars under a dark sky, or a telescope, and a precise position.
| Constellation | Pisces |
|---|---|
| When to look | Evening and most of the night, with binoculars or a telescope |
| Elongation | 131.6° east of the Sun |
| Distance from Earth | 29.2102 AU · 4,369.8 million km |
| Light-time | 4 h 02 min |
| Motion against the stars | Retrograde |
| Ecliptic longitude seen from Earth | 1.86° · tropical Aries 1.9° |
| Ecliptic latitude seen from Earth | −1.41° |
| Distance from the Sun | 29.8769 AU · 4,469.5 million km |
| Heliocentric longitude and latitude | 3.28° · −1.38° |
See it in place: Neptune on its orbit, in the 3D heliocentric view, or above your own horizon on the all-sky disk.
Coming events for Neptune
Yes. Neptune is in retrograde motion until December 12, 2026. Dates are in Universal Time. Every sky event of the year is in the astronomy calendar 2026 and the calendar 2027.
| Date | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Retrograde motion ends | Stationary in Pisces, then resumes its eastward motion. | |
| Conjunction with the Sun | Behind the Sun as seen from Earth, not observable. 30.871 AU from Earth. | |
| Retrograde motion begins | Stationary in Pisces, then moves westward against the stars. | |
| Opposition | Opposite the Sun, visible all night. 28.868 AU from Earth (4,318.6 million km). | |
| Retrograde motion ends | Stationary in Pisces, then resumes its eastward motion. | |
| Conjunction with the Sun | Behind the Sun as seen from Earth, not observable. 30.864 AU from Earth. | |
| Retrograde motion begins | Stationary in Pisces, then moves westward against the stars. | |
| Opposition | Opposite the Sun, visible all night. 28.862 AU from Earth (4,317.6 million km). | |
| Retrograde motion ends | Stationary in Pisces, then resumes its eastward motion. |
Neptune month by month
Position on the first day of each of the next twelve months, at 00:00 Universal Time.
| Date | Constellation | From the Sun | When to look | Distance (AU) | Motion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1, 2026 | Pisces | 112.8° east | Evening and most of the night | 29.480 | Retrograde |
| January 1, 2027 | Pisces | 81.4° east | Evening sky | 30.007 | Direct |
| February 1, 2027 | Pisces | 50.4° east | Evening sky | 30.493 | Direct |
| March 1, 2027 | Pisces | 23.1° east | Evening sky | 30.783 | Direct |
| April 1, 2027 | Pisces | 6.8° west | Not visible | 30.865 | Direct |
| May 1, 2027 | Pisces | 35.0° west | Morning sky | 30.692 | Direct |
| June 1, 2027 | Pisces | 64.1° west | Morning sky | 30.302 | Direct |
| July 1, 2027 | Pisces | 92.3° west | Late evening until dawn | 29.813 | Direct |
| August 1, 2027 | Pisces | 122.0° west | Late evening until dawn | 29.320 | Retrograde |
| September 1, 2027 | Pisces | 152.4° west | All night | 28.972 | Retrograde |
| October 1, 2027 | Pisces | 177.2° east | All night | 28.869 | Retrograde |
| November 1, 2027 | Pisces | 146.0° east | Evening and most of the night | 29.041 | Retrograde |
How Neptune moves
Neptune takes 165 years to orbit the Sun. It moves so slowly that it spends about 14 years in each zodiac constellation, and Earth brings it back to opposition every 367.5 days.
Neptune is retrograde for a little more than five months each year. It is about 29 to 31 AU away: its light takes around four hours to reach us.
Neptune was found in 1846 from a calculation: its position was predicted from the unexplained drift of Uranus before anyone had seen it.
Related definitions: opposition, conjunction, elongation, synodic period.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Neptune in the sky right now?
On November 12, 2026, Neptune is in the constellation Pisces, 132° east of the Sun: already up at nightfall and visible for most of the night. It is 29.2102 AU from Earth (4,369.8 million km), and its light takes 4 h 02 min to reach us.
How far is Neptune from Earth today?
Neptune is 29.2102 AU from Earth on November 12, 2026, that is 4,369.8 million km. Light takes 4 h 02 min to cover that distance.
When is the next opposition of Neptune?
On September 28, 2027. Opposite the Sun, visible all night. 28.868 AU from Earth (4,318.6 million km).
Is Neptune in retrograde?
Yes. Neptune is in retrograde motion until December 12, 2026.