Planets TonightNeptune in 1961: brightness, position and events
Brightest+7.9around Apr 15
Closest (in table)29.323 au4387 million km
Farthest31.320 au
Events this year2
Brightest last year+7.9
Events this year
| Date (JST) | Event | Mag | Dist (au) | Constellation | Elong. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961-04-30 22:20 | Opposition | +7.9 | 29.323 | Libra | 178.2° |
| 1961-11-04 02:14 | Conjunction with the Sun | +8.0 | 31.320 | Libra | 1.7° |
Magnitude through the year (lower = brighter)
Twice-monthly position and visibility
| Date | Mag | Dist (au) | Constellation | Elong. | Visibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | +8.0 | 30.815 | Libra | 60° W | Morning sky |
| Jan 15 | +8.0 | 30.593 | Libra | 74° W | Morning sky |
| Feb 1 | +7.9 | 30.301 | Libra | 91° W | Morning sky |
| Feb 15 | +7.9 | 30.061 | Libra | 105° W | Morning sky |
| Mar 1 | +7.9 | 29.836 | Libra | 119° W | Morning sky |
| Mar 15 | +7.9 | 29.640 | Libra | 133° W | Morning sky |
| Apr 1 | +7.9 | 29.457 | Libra | 150° W | Most of the night |
| Apr 15 | +7.9 | 29.362 | Libra | 164° W | Most of the night |
| May 1 | +7.9 | 29.323 | Libra | 178° E | Most of the night |
| May 15 | +7.9 | 29.350 | Libra | 165° E | Most of the night |
| Jun 1 | +7.9 | 29.459 | Libra | 149° E | Evening sky |
| Jun 15 | +7.9 | 29.602 | Libra | 135° E | Evening sky |
| Jul 1 | +7.9 | 29.815 | Libra | 120° E | Evening sky |
| Jul 15 | +7.9 | 30.031 | Libra | 106° E | Evening sky |
| Aug 1 | +nan | 30.313 | Libra | 90° E | Evening sky |
| Aug 15 | +7.9 | 30.547 | Libra | 77° E | Evening sky |
| Sep 1 | +8.0 | 30.812 | Libra | 61° E | Evening sky |
| Sep 15 | +8.0 | 31.001 | Libra | 47° E | Evening sky |
| Oct 1 | +8.0 | 31.171 | Libra | 32° E | Evening sky |
| Oct 15 | +8.0 | 31.271 | Libra | 19° E | Evening sky |
| Nov 1 | +8.0 | 31.320 | Libra | 3° E | Too close to the Sun |
| Nov 15 | +8.0 | 31.298 | Libra | 11° W | Too close to the Sun |
| Dec 1 | +8.0 | 31.206 | Libra | 27° W | Morning sky |
| Dec 15 | +8.0 | 31.071 | Libra | 40° W | Morning sky |
Computed with the JPL DE421 ephemeris and Skyfield (times in JST). Magnitude and distance are for 12:00 JST on each date. Visibility is a rough guide for mid-northern latitudes such as Japan.
About this page
Neptune is brightest around April 1961 (magnitude +7.9); 2 conjunctions, oppositions or elongations occur this year.