NASA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Space Object of September: Neptune

illustrated drop cap for the letter EEach Friday, the folks at Preachy will offer you something of a reflection for your weekend. This Friday, we present a Space Object of the Month, in which a Preachy co-editor invites you to learn how to use his telescope (with him):

Items I will try to find: Neptune

Why?: ’Cause … the planet is at opposition and on close approach

When: September 14, 2021

As I am (slowly) learning, planetary opposition is kind of the best time to try one’s luck at spotting said planet. Neptune will be at opposition on September 14 and will be at its highest point in the sky around midnight in my home in Austin, Texas, U.S. Keep your fingers crossed that your intrepid hobbyist can both find the sucker and stay up late enough to try.