Neptune completes its first orbit of the Sun
... as seen by humans.
http://stardate.org/radio/program/neptune%E2%80%99s-first-orbit
The constellation Capricornus scoots across the southwestern quadrant of the sky tonight. It's due south at nightfall, and sets by around midnight. Its brightest stars form a wide triangle that resembles the bottom of a bikini bathing suit.
The giant planet Neptune stands a little to the upper left of the triangle's western point. Through a small telescope, it looks like a tiny blue star. It's not all that impressive a sight, until you consider one thing: Before tonight, only two other people have ever seen Neptune at that position in the sky. That’s because the planet was standing right there when it was discovered by two astronomers in Germany in September of 1846.
http://stardate.org/radio/program/neptune%E2%80%99s-first-orbit
The constellation Capricornus scoots across the southwestern quadrant of the sky tonight. It's due south at nightfall, and sets by around midnight. Its brightest stars form a wide triangle that resembles the bottom of a bikini bathing suit.
The giant planet Neptune stands a little to the upper left of the triangle's western point. Through a small telescope, it looks like a tiny blue star. It's not all that impressive a sight, until you consider one thing: Before tonight, only two other people have ever seen Neptune at that position in the sky. That’s because the planet was standing right there when it was discovered by two astronomers in Germany in September of 1846.