17 Down

NYT Daily • August 19, 2025

Only planet in the solar system not visible to the naked eye

Answer:

NEPTUNE

Hint:

This icy giant was the first planet predicted by math before being observed through a telescope.

Explanation:

This clue asks for the planet in our solar system that can't be seen without a telescope. While Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are all bright enough to spot with the naked eye, Neptune is too distant and dim. The answer is straightforward—no wordplay or tricks—just a direct fact about the farthest major planet from the Sun.

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