Uranus will be visible from Ireland tonight – here’s how to make sure you see it

Its name is enough to make even the most sensible person crack a smile.

So if you’ve always dreamed of seeing Uranus [insert giggle here], you’ll be happy to hear that tonight is your chance.

Uranus will be visible to sky-gazers across the country tonight, as the planet reaches its closet point to Earth in its orbit.

It will begin to rise at 5.53pm and will set at 8.01am tomorrow morning.

Here are our tips to make sure you see Uranus tonight.

The Hunter’s full moon appeared last night, meaning the moon was particularly bright in the sky.

While the moon is now waning slightly, tonight it will still be bright enough to illuminate Uranus.

For your best chance of seeing Uranus, look to the left of the moon when it’s dark outside.

Uranus should appear as a small turquoise dot.

While you might just be able to see it with the naked eye, it might be worth grabbing a pair of binoculars to see Uranus in more detail.

Top tips for seeing Uranus:

• Find a quiet spot, ideally away from the city

• Your eyes usually take 15-20 minutes to acclimatise to the dark, so take your time

• Bring a chair or blanket with you – you may be there for a while

• Make sure you’re looking in the right direction