Since its discovery Neptune has gone round the Sun just once.

1846 · 2011 · apart: 165 years

It was found in 1846, and a Neptunian year lasts about 165 Earth years, so the planet celebrated its first 'birthday' in 2011.

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The event

• Neptune found 'with the tip of a pen'1846 · Berlin Observatory. From the wobbles in Uranus's orbit, Urbain Le Verrier calculated where an unknown planet should be and wrote to Berlin. Johann Galle got the letter on 23 September 1846 and that same night found Neptune less than a degree from the predicted spot.

19th century · 21st century

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