Planets TonightNeptune in 1972: brightness, position and events
Brightest+7.8around May 15
Closest (in table)29.311 au4385 million km
Farthest31.298 au
Events this year2
Brightest last year+7.8
Events this year
| Date (JST) | Event | Mag | Dist (au) | Constellation | Elong. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972-05-25 09:06 | Opposition | +7.8 | 29.305 | Scorpius | 178.3° |
| 1972-11-27 12:16 | Conjunction with the Sun | +8.0 | 31.301 | Scorpius | 1.6° |
Magnitude through the year (lower = brighter)
Twice-monthly position and visibility
| Date | Mag | Dist (au) | Constellation | Elong. | Visibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | +8.0 | 31.112 | Scorpius | 36° W | Morning sky |
| Jan 15 | +8.0 | 30.947 | Scorpius | 50° W | Morning sky |
| Feb 1 | +8.0 | 30.699 | Scorpius | 66° W | Morning sky |
| Feb 15 | +7.9 | 30.467 | Scorpius | 80° W | Morning sky |
| Mar 1 | +7.9 | 30.209 | Scorpius | 95° W | Morning sky |
| Mar 15 | +7.9 | 29.973 | Scorpius | 109° W | Morning sky |
| Apr 1 | +7.9 | 29.714 | Scorpius | 126° W | Morning sky |
| Apr 15 | +7.9 | 29.538 | Scorpius | 140° W | Morning sky |
| May 1 | +7.9 | 29.392 | Scorpius | 156° W | Most of the night |
| May 15 | +7.8 | 29.321 | Scorpius | 170° W | Most of the night |
| Jun 1 | +7.8 | 29.311 | Scorpius | 173° E | Most of the night |
| Jun 15 | +7.9 | 29.366 | Scorpius | 159° E | Most of the night |
| Jul 1 | +7.9 | 29.493 | Scorpius | 144° E | Evening sky |
| Jul 15 | +7.9 | 29.654 | Scorpius | 130° E | Evening sky |
| Aug 1 | +7.9 | 29.897 | Scorpius | 114° E | Evening sky |
| Aug 15 | +7.9 | 30.122 | Scorpius | 100° E | Evening sky |
| Sep 1 | +7.9 | 30.408 | Scorpius | 84° E | Evening sky |
| Sep 15 | +8.0 | 30.638 | Scorpius | 70° E | Evening sky |
| Oct 1 | +8.0 | 30.878 | Scorpius | 55° E | Evening sky |
| Oct 15 | +8.0 | 31.053 | Scorpius | 42° E | Evening sky |
| Nov 1 | +8.0 | 31.210 | Scorpius | 25° E | Evening sky |
| Nov 15 | +8.0 | 31.283 | Scorpius | 12° E | Too close to the Sun |
| Dec 1 | +8.0 | 31.298 | Scorpius | 4° W | Too close to the Sun |
| Dec 15 | +8.0 | 31.251 | Scorpius | 18° 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 May 1972 (magnitude +7.8); 2 conjunctions, oppositions or elongations occur this year.