How Uranus’s apparent size changes
Uranus appears 3.8″ across on 30 October 2026. It is 18.555 AU from Earth and is currently close to its largest apparent size in this cycle.
Uranus Size and Distance
Drag through the orbit to see how Uranus’s apparent size, distance, brightness and illumination change over time.
- Angular diameter
- 3.8″
- Distance to Earth
- 18.555 AU
- Magnitude
- 5.6
- Illuminated
- 100%
Drag the orbit to move through the cycle
Uranus Apparent Size Over Time
Approximately weekly samples cover the complete minimum–maximum–minimum cycle. Exact event dates are inserted between sampled rows.
| Date | Angular size | Distance | Magnitude | Rise–Set | Best observing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 3.4″ | 20.477 AU | 5.8 | 01:09 – 15:32 | — |
| 3.4″ | 20.468 AU | 5.8 | 00:43 – 15:06 | — | |
| 3.4″ | 20.446 AU | 5.8 | 00:17 – 14:40 | — | |
| 3.5″ | 20.411 AU | 5.8 | 23:51 – 14:15 | — | |
| 3.5″ | 20.364 AU | 5.8 | 23:24 – 13:49 | — | |
| 3.5″ | 20.305 AU | 5.8 | 22:58 – 13:24 | 23:23 – 23:50 | |
| 3.5″ | 20.235 AU | 5.8 | 22:32 – 12:58 | 22:57 – 23:54 | |
| 3.5″ | 20.155 AU | 5.8 | 22:05 – 12:32 | 22:30 – 00:00 | |
| 3.5″ | 20.066 AU | 5.8 | 21:39 – 12:06 | 22:04 – 00:07 | |
| 3.5″ | 19.969 AU | 5.8 | 21:12 – 11:40 | 21:37 – 00:15 | |
| 3.5″ | 19.864 AU | 5.8 | 20:46 – 11:13 | 21:11 – 00:23 | |
| 3.6″ | 19.754 AU | 5.8 | 20:19 – 10:47 | 20:44 – 00:31 | |
| 3.6″ | 19.639 AU | 5.7 | 19:52 – 10:20 | 20:17 – 00:39 | |
| 3.6″ | 19.522 AU | 5.7 | 19:25 – 09:53 | 19:50 – 00:48 | |
| 3.6″ | 19.403 AU | 5.7 | 18:58 – 09:26 | 19:23 – 00:55 | |
| 3.7″ | 19.284 AU | 5.7 | 18:30 – 08:59 | 18:55 – 01:03 | |
| 3.7″ | 19.167 AU | 5.7 | 18:03 – 08:31 | 18:28 – 01:10 | |
| 3.7″ | 19.054 AU | 5.7 | 17:35 – 08:04 | 18:00 – 01:17 | |
| 3.7″ | 18.946 AU | 5.7 | 17:07 – 07:36 | 17:32 – 01:24 | |
| 3.7″ | 18.845 AU | 5.6 | 16:35 – 07:04 | 17:04 – 01:31 | |
| 3.8″ | 18.752 AU | 5.6 | 16:07 – 06:35 | 16:36 – 01:38 | |
| 3.8″ | 18.67 AU | 5.6 | 15:39 – 06:07 | 16:08 – 01:45 | |
| 3.8″ | 18.598 AU | 5.6 | 15:11 – 05:38 | 15:40 – 01:52 | |
| Today | 3.8″ | 18.555 AU | 5.6 | 14:51 – 05:18 | 15:19 – 01:57 |
| 3.8″ | 18.539 AU | 5.6 | 14:43 – 05:10 | 15:11 – 01:59 | |
| 3.8″ | 18.494 AU | 5.6 | 14:14 – 04:41 | 14:43 – 02:06 | |
| 3.8″ | 18.463 AU | 5.6 | 13:46 – 04:12 | 14:15 – 02:14 | |
| 3.8″ | 18.447 AU | 5.6 | 13:17 – 03:43 | 14:10 – 02:21 | |
| Maximum | 3.8″ | 18.444 AU | 5.6 | 13:05 – 03:30 | 14:08 – 02:24 |
| 3.8″ | 18.446 AU | 5.6 | 12:49 – 03:14 | 14:07 – 02:27 | |
| 3.8″ | 18.46 AU | 5.6 | 12:20 – 02:45 | 14:06 – 02:16 | |
| 3.8″ | 18.489 AU | 5.6 | 11:52 – 02:16 | 14:07 – 01:47 | |
| 3.8″ | 18.533 AU | 5.6 | 11:23 – 01:47 | 14:10 – 01:18 | |
| 3.8″ | 18.591 AU | 5.6 | 10:55 – 01:18 | 14:13 – 00:50 | |
| 3.8″ | 18.662 AU | 5.6 | 10:27 – 00:50 | 14:18 – 00:21 | |
| 3.8″ | 18.744 AU | 5.6 | 09:58 – 00:21 | 14:24 – 23:53 | |
| 3.7″ | 18.837 AU | 5.6 | 09:30 – 23:53 | 14:31 – 23:25 | |
| 3.7″ | 18.938 AU | 5.7 | 09:02 – 23:25 | 14:38 – 22:57 | |
| 3.7″ | 19.047 AU | 5.7 | 08:35 – 22:57 | 14:46 – 22:29 | |
| 3.7″ | 19.16 AU | 5.7 | 08:07 – 22:30 | 14:53 – 22:01 | |
| 3.7″ | 19.278 AU | 5.7 | 07:40 – 22:02 | 15:06 – 21:34 | |
| 3.6″ | 19.396 AU | 5.7 | 07:12 – 21:35 | 15:13 – 21:06 | |
| 3.6″ | 19.515 AU | 5.7 | 06:45 – 21:08 | 15:21 – 20:39 | |
| 3.6″ | 19.632 AU | 5.7 | 06:18 – 20:41 | 15:28 – 20:13 | |
| 3.6″ | 19.746 AU | 5.7 | 05:51 – 20:15 | 15:36 – 19:46 | |
| 3.5″ | 19.854 AU | 5.8 | 05:24 – 19:48 | 15:43 – 19:20 | |
| 3.5″ | 19.956 AU | 5.8 | 04:58 – 19:22 | 15:51 – 18:53 | |
| 3.5″ | 20.05 AU | 5.8 | 04:31 – 18:56 | 15:58 – 18:27 | |
| 3.5″ | 20.135 AU | 5.8 | 04:05 – 18:30 | 16:07 – 18:01 | |
| 3.5″ | 20.21 AU | 5.8 | 03:38 – 18:04 | 16:15 – 17:35 | |
| 3.5″ | 20.274 AU | 5.8 | 03:12 – 17:38 | 16:23 – 17:10 | |
| 3.5″ | 20.326 AU | 5.8 | 02:46 – 17:13 | 16:32 – 16:44 | |
| 3.5″ | 20.367 AU | 5.8 | 02:19 – 16:47 | — | |
| 3.5″ | 20.394 AU | 5.8 | 01:53 – 16:22 | — | |
| 3.5″ | 20.408 AU | 5.8 | 01:27 – 15:56 | — | |
| 3.5″ | 20.411 AU | 5.8 | 01:20 – 15:49 | — | |
Why Does Uranus Change Size?
Uranus’s physical diameter is not changing. Its apparent angular diameter changes mainly because the distance between Earth and Uranus changes as both planets move around the Sun.
When Will Uranus Have Its Largest Apparent Diameter?
Uranus will reach an apparent diameter of 3.8″ on 25 November 2026. That is about 1× wider than today, or roughly 1× the apparent disk area.
The largest apparent-size date has an observing interval from your location: 14:08 – 02:24. Apparent size alone does not describe seeing or atmospheric conditions.