Astronomy enthusiasts will be treated to an unprecedented view of Uranus when the gas giant makes its closest approach to Earth tonight.
When Uranus reaches opposition, it will sit directly across from the sun and illuminate the sky, giving star gazers the best chance to spot it in the wild.
Between October 18 and October 19, the frozen gas giant will rise in the east in the Pisces constellation as the sun sets in the west.
The seventh planet from the sun sits on average a staggering 3 billion km from the sun, but on this special occasion will be visible to the naked eye.
How to watch the Uranus opposition in the sky tonight
The good news is that star gazers can ditch their telescopes, because Uranus will be likely visible without need for special equipment.
“It’s visible all night long and its blue-green colour is unmistakable,” explained Jane Houston Jones from Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
“It may be bright enough to see with your naked eye – and for sure in binoculars.”
However even at its brightest, the planet will only show up as a faint blue green speck in the vast expanses of the dark night.
In fact, the planet will not shine more brightly than the average night star, so it might be worthwhile to grab a star chart to locate it tonight.
A good star-chart or mobile app will help you find the Pisces constellation and Uranus which will be wedged un close to the star Omicron Piscium, which is also fairly visible on it own.
One advantage of Uranus appearing tonight is the ongoing birth of a new moon, which will keep the night clear of any hindering moonlight.
Once you are ready to head out, make sure you find a suitable spot free of light pollution and clouds.
Uranus should hang around for the next 24 to 36 hours and will be at its closest to Earth on Thursday October 19.
National Geographic recommends you then look for it in the southeastern sky anytime after sundown to spot a modest “blue-green disk” in the sky.
What is Uranus?
Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun, and together with Neptune, it is one of the two ice giants orbiting the star.
The planet is believed to have a rocky core, surrounded by a layer of liquid water and ammonia, encased in a coat of frozen hydrogen and helium.
It has the third largest planetary radius in the solar system, behind Jupiter and Saturn, and has its own system of 13 rings and numerous moons.
For several decades, the planet was mistakenly considered a star before British astronomer Sir William Herschel confirmed in 1781 that it was indeed a planet.
Incidentally, the discovery of Uranus was a historic moment for astronomy, because it was the first planet to be discovered with a telescope.
Uranus is also the only planet in the solar system to be named after a Greek god, unlike its brothers and sisters named after the Roman pantheon.