February 4, 2026: This is the last call to see Neptune during this evening appearance. Each night it sinks lower toward twilight before solar conjunction. Learn when to look, how to use Saturn as a guide, and why viewing conditions are ending quickly.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 7:00 a.m. CST; Sunset, 5:10 p.m. CST. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times.
Last Call for Neptune
Neptune is nearing the end of its evening appearance. Each clear night, the planet is lower in the western sky, where thicker atmospheric layers further dim an already faint target. With the moon rising later each evening, use Saturn as a guide to locate Neptune.
When evening twilight ends, about 90 minutes after sunset, Saturn is over 20° above the west-southwest horizon. Neptune is to Saturn’s upper right, although it is not visible without optical assistance.
Binocular View
Through a binocular, place Saturn at the center of the field of view. Identify the stars 20, 24, 27, and 29 Piscium (Psc). While these stars are much fainter than Saturn, they are about 15 times brighter than Neptune. The distant blue world is 1.5° to Saturn’s upper right, roughly halfway from Saturn toward the edge of the field.
Use averted (peripheral) vision when searching for Neptune. Look toward the right side of the field, and the planet may appear to the upper left.
Attempt to observe Neptune during the next several evenings as it descends toward twilight and approaches solar conjunction. The planet passes conjunction with the sun later in the season and returns to the eastern morning sky later in the year, although Saturn is then too far away to appear in the same binocular field.
Future Venus, Mars Conjunctions with Neptune
Neptune remains in front of Pisces’ dim starfield, which lacks bright reference stars to guide the eye through a binocular. Venus appears in the same binocular field with Neptune during early February 2028 after evening twilight ends. Mars appears in the same field with Neptune from February 16 through March 2, 2032. Other conjunctions with Venus and Mars occur, although they happen during twilight or close to the sun. Experienced sky watchers or observers using computer-guided telescopes can locate Neptune again when it returns to more favorable viewing conditions later in the year.
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