Astronomical overview
Neptune has a deep blue appearance and active meteorology, including dark storm systems analogous to large anticyclones.
♆ · Ephemerides
Observation date
Neptune
The outermost major planet, an ice giant with highly dynamic weather and the fastest winds in the Solar System.
- AU
- 29.880
- ECL
- 2.6°
- MAG
- 7.86
Astronomical data
Parameters and context
- Heliocentric distance
- 29.880 AU
- Ecliptic longitude
- 2.56°
- Ecliptic latitude
- -1.36°
- Apparent magnitude
- 7.86 mag
- Right ascension
- 0 h 18 min
- Declination
- 0.48°
- Altitude above horizon
- -11.0°
- Azimuth
- 285.3°
Astrological meaning
In astrology, Neptune is associated with imagination, intuition, sensitivity and symbolic perception.
Mythology
The name comes from Neptune, the Roman god of the sea (Greek Poseidon).
Key facts
- It was mathematically predicted before direct telescopic discovery.
- Wind speeds can exceed 2,000 km/h.
- Triton orbits retrograde relative to Neptune’s rotation.
- Neptune has faint, dark dust rings.
- Its brightness varies over long time scales.
Parameters and context
- Sidereal day
- 16 h 6 min
- Solar day
- 16 h 6 min
- Year length
- 60,190 days (~164.79 Earth years)
- Rotation speed
- 9,660.0 km/h • 22.36°/h
- Orbital speed
- 5.40 km/s
- Distance from Sun
- 4,495.10 million km
- Diameter
- 49,244 km
- Gravity
- 11.2 m/s²
- Mean temperature
- -201 °C