Neptune Nears End of First Orbit Since Its

[Still Waters]

This story has been corrected to reflect that Neptune will actually complete its first orbit around the sun, since being discovered, in 2011.

The planet Neptune will be in opposition — when the sun, Earth, and a planet fall in a straight line on Aug. 20. The planet will be exactly opposite the sun in the sky, being highest in the sky at local midnight.Usually this is also the point where the planet is closest to the Earth.

This opposition is special because Neptune will be returning close to the spot where it was discovered in 1846, marking its first complete trip around the sun since its discovery. Neptune is close, but still not quite at the finish line of its first orbit since being discovered yet. That will occur in 2011, according to NASA.

Read more...

[Aries1982]

that's actually a pretty cool piece of information.

[RazielKTB]

I agree.