--- title: Uranus: How and Where to See the Planet Tonight description: Thursday night, sky-gazers could be able to see Uranus without the help of a telescope. This is how to see it canonical: https://time.com/4989585/how-to-view-uranus-without-a-telescope/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-10-19T17:26:40.000Z article:modified_time: 2023-12-13T02:25:49.000Z article:section: Science og:title: How to View Uranus Without a Telescope Tonight og:description: "It's visible all night long and its blue-green color is unmistakeable." og:url: https://time.com/4989585/how-to-view-uranus-without-a-telescope/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltac94f8d41f147f08/6988e2a54ee262055130f773/uranus_nasa.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Uranus og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: How to View Uranus Without a Telescope Tonight twitter:description: "It's visible all night long and its blue-green color is unmistakeable." twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltac94f8d41f147f08/6988e2a54ee262055130f773/uranus_nasa.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # How to View Uranus Without a Telescope as It Nears Earth Tonight ## Video: The Moon Once Had an Atmosphere That Faded Away [Watch (HLS stream): The Moon Once Had an Atmosphere That Faded Away](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/iEIHrSjw.m3u8) (1:31)  _Published 2017-10-09. The moon likely had an ancient, temporary atmosphere — similar to the pocket of gases that surround Earth — around 3 to 4 billion years ago, according to a new study._ by [Lisa Marie Segarra](https://time.com/author/lisa-marie-segarra/) ## Lisa Marie Segarra Updated: Dec 13, 2023 2:25 AM UTCPublished: Oct 19, 2017 5:26 PM UTC  This is an image of the planet Uranus taken by the spacecraft Voyager 2 in 1986. This is an image of the planet Uranus taken by the spacecraft Voyager 2 in 1986.NASA by [Lisa Marie Segarra](https://time.com/author/lisa-marie-segarra/) ## Lisa Marie Segarra Updated: Dec 13, 2023 2:25 AM UTCPublished: Oct 19, 2017 5:26 PM UTC Sky-gazers will have a good chance of seeing the icy planet Uranus from just 1.7 billion miles away Thursday night — without the help of a telescope. Uranus is making a close approach to our planet, NASA says, and it could be visible to the naked eye. A waning moon, and the resulting darker sky, should help. “It’s visible all night long and its blue-green color is unmistakeable. It may be bright enough to see with your naked eye — and for sure in binoculars,”[ according to NASA.](https://www.nasa.gov/mediacast/jpl/whats-up-october-2017) Uranus is 4 times wider than Earth. For perspective, NASA says, if Earth was the size of a nickel, Uranus would be about as big as a softball. Despite its relative size to Earth,[_National Geographic_](https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/10/skywatching-guide-october-uranus-meteors-moon-space-science/) notes, the planet would still be just barely visible without any viewing equipment even under ideal conditions. But binoculars, rather than a full telescope, should suffice, NASA says. The best way to see Uranus, according to _National Geographic,_ is by looking toward the southeast, where it will be close to the [Pisces constellation.](http://time.com/4183652/david-bowie-honored-with-his-own-lightning-bolt-shaped-constellation/) “Scan the constellation carefully, and look for a tiny blue-green disk to pop out against the background of fainter stars,” the magazine advises. Since Uranus will remain close by, those who do have a telescope will be able to see it throughout the month of October. **Correction:** The original version of this story misstated the position of Uranus in relation to Earth and the sun. 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