Starwatch: opposition is a chance to see Uranus with the naked eye

Earth will be directly between the sun and Uranus this week, making our solar system's seventh planet appear brighter than usual

It is time to try glimpsing the seventh planet, Uranus, with the naked eye. It will certainly not be easy and could well take a few attempts over the next week but it is possible.

To help ensure success, take a pair of binoculars with you. Uranus hovers at the limits of naked eye visibility but this week it gets a small boost. It will be at opposition, when the planet is exactly 180 degrees away from the sun, as seen from Earth. To achieve this configuration, Earth must be directly between Uranus and the sun, meaning that we will be closer to the planet than at any other time in the year. This helps make Uranus appear brighter. It is still a tough challenge though.