Current Events > Rare chance to view Uranus tonight

(+) Yeah! (+)

If the cloud cover breaks up, as it is forecast to do, the planet Uranus the seventh planet out from the Sun will be relatively easy to locate and see with just a pair of binoculars or small telescope tonight.

After sunset look to the crescent Moon in the western sky. Uranus will be just a degree above the Moon, shining as a blue-green dot at an apparent magnitude of 5.8.

To find Uranus, first place the crescent Moon in the field of view of your binoculars or telescope and then look just above it.

The astronomical scale of apparent magnitude measures the brightest of celestial bodies on an inverse scale with lower numbers, including those in the negative range, indicating brighter objects.

Most people with average vision can see objects as dim as sixth magnitude in dark locations, explained Space.com. Stars can get as bright as nearly -1.5 magnitude, the International Space Station appears as bright as -6 magnitude, and the moon as bright as almost -13 magnitude. The sun, which is too bright to view safely with your bare eyes, is at nearly -27 magnitude.

The moon and Uranus will set at 10:22 p.m., taking this rare viewing opportunity with them.

To find Uranus, first place the crescent Moon in the field of view of your binoculars or telescope and then look just above it.

uranus lol lmfao