Uranus today
Uranus sits at the limit of naked-eye visibility, around magnitude 5.7. Under a dark sky you can just see it; binoculars show it easily once you know where to look.
| Constellation | Taurus |
|---|---|
| When to look | All night, with binoculars or a telescope |
| Elongation | 166.0° west of the Sun |
| Distance from Earth | 18.4708 AU · 2,763.2 million km |
| Light-time | 2 h 33 min |
| Motion against the stars | Retrograde |
| Ecliptic longitude seen from Earth | 64.22° · tropical Gemini 4.2° |
| Ecliptic latitude seen from Earth | −0.15° |
| Distance from the Sun | 19.4327 AU · 2,907.1 million km |
| Heliocentric longitude and latitude | 63.52° · −0.14° |
See it in place: Uranus on its orbit, in the 3D heliocentric view, or above your own horizon on the all-sky disk.
Coming events for Uranus
Yes. Uranus is in retrograde motion until February 8, 2027. Dates are in Universal Time. Every sky event of the year is in the astronomy calendar 2026 and the calendar 2027.
| Date | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Opposition | Opposite the Sun, visible all night. 18.443 AU from Earth (2,759.1 million km). | |
| Retrograde motion ends | Stationary in Taurus, then resumes its eastward motion. | |
| Conjunction with the Sun | Behind the Sun as seen from Earth, not observable. 20.410 AU from Earth. | |
| Retrograde motion begins | Stationary in Taurus, then moves westward against the stars. | |
| Opposition | Opposite the Sun, visible all night. 18.376 AU from Earth (2,749.0 million km). | |
| Retrograde motion ends | Stationary in Taurus, then resumes its eastward motion. | |
| Conjunction with the Sun | Behind the Sun as seen from Earth, not observable. 20.342 AU from Earth. | |
| Retrograde motion begins | Stationary in Taurus, then moves westward against the stars. | |
| Opposition | Opposite the Sun, visible all night. 18.307 AU from Earth (2,738.7 million km). |
Uranus 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 | Taurus | 174.7° east | All night | 18.447 | Retrograde |
| January 1, 2027 | Taurus | 142.0° east | Evening and most of the night | 18.640 | Retrograde |
| February 1, 2027 | Taurus | 109.8° east | Evening and most of the night | 19.062 | Retrograde |
| March 1, 2027 | Taurus | 81.7° east | Evening sky | 19.531 | Direct |
| April 1, 2027 | Taurus | 51.8° east | Evening sky | 20.010 | Direct |
| May 1, 2027 | Taurus | 23.8° east | Evening sky | 20.319 | Direct |
| June 1, 2027 | Taurus | 4.3° west | Not visible | 20.407 | Direct |
| July 1, 2027 | Taurus | 31.3° west | Morning sky | 20.252 | Direct |
| August 1, 2027 | Taurus | 59.5° west | Morning sky | 19.881 | Direct |
| September 1, 2027 | Taurus | 88.5° west | Morning sky | 19.379 | Direct |
| October 1, 2027 | Taurus | 117.8° west | Late evening until dawn | 18.887 | Retrograde |
| November 1, 2027 | Taurus | 149.3° west | Late evening until dawn | 18.508 | Retrograde |
How Uranus moves
Uranus takes 84 years to orbit the Sun and stays about seven years in each zodiac constellation. Seen from Earth it comes back to opposition every 370 days, only four or five days later each year.
Uranus is retrograde for about five months each year around opposition. At 18 to 20 AU, its light takes more than two and a half hours to reach Earth.
In a telescope Uranus shows a tiny pale blue-green disc, 3.7 arcseconds across, which is what tells it apart from a star.
Related definitions: opposition, conjunction, elongation, synodic period.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Uranus in the sky right now?
On November 12, 2026, Uranus is in the constellation Taurus, 166° west of the Sun: visible all night, highest around midnight. It is 18.4708 AU from Earth (2,763.2 million km), and its light takes 2 h 33 min to reach us.
How far is Uranus from Earth today?
Uranus is 18.4708 AU from Earth on November 12, 2026, that is 2,763.2 million km. Light takes 2 h 33 min to cover that distance.
When is the next opposition of Uranus?
On November 25, 2026. Opposite the Sun, visible all night. 18.443 AU from Earth (2,759.1 million km).
Is Uranus in retrograde?
Yes. Uranus is in retrograde motion until February 8, 2027.