I have found both with my 10' DOB, using a telrad & a printed chart marked with the telrad circles.
On other occasions I have been unsure if I have them in my sights, looking with an LX-90.
Worth the effort, at least for the first time find.
The only way I found these 2 objects was to have a really REALLY good star chart, showing every star down to a magnitude of at least 7...if it wasn't for that I'd be still searching. I'll see if I can find one for you..
That's ok mate. I just want you to find them cos' I know how frustrated I was on the first night of looking for them! Let alone spending a month or so like you have.
Uranus (mag 5.7). Visual with naked eye at a dark sky site
It's very easy to find as the planet lies during mid-August to mid-September just 0.5o from 3.6 magnitude Lambda Aquarii / λ Aqr
OPPOSITION : 01 September CONSTELLATION: Aquarius
Neptune (mag 7.9). readily seen with binoculars
in OPPOSITION : 08 August CONSTELLATION: Capricornus
Closest approach will be on 9th September size 14.7'
and 12th December, size 15.2'
I found those pesky planets.Between midnight and 1.30 am Not for the lack of trying I can tell you. The first one I spotted was Neptune, I wasn't too sure at first but after looking at a few other stars of the some magnitude and then going back to the planet I could easily see the difference in size.I located Neptune between the stars in Capricornus with the Greek l (with a bit of a squiggle, LOTA)and O(with a line through it,THETA) to the left and above the l(with a squiggle) star is another bright star (not sure of its name) there were three faint stars to the right and just below this star Neptune was the star on the lower right of these three.(I hope that makes sense) Not much colour apart from grey could be made out,sometimes I thought I could see a very very pale blue but I think that was wishful thinking. I was using my 9mm GSO plossl with my Orion shorty plus X2 Barlow that gave me roughly 250 magnification. Viewing was about 5/10 and and seeing was a bit better say 6 or 7/10. I started to do a little jig ( not a sight to be viewed by the faint hearted)
Then I went hunting for the other nasty (Uranus). This was the first time I really tried for this planet as Neptune was the one I was really after. With the information I got from the Universetoday and skyviewcafe I found Uranus within about 15 mins it was the third star to the lower left(right in my telescope, you know what I mean) of the Aquarius star with a Greek upside down y(LAMBDA) attached to it. This planet was a lot larger also looked grey but at times I could make out a very pale blue/green colour (it was flying past my FOV and it was nudge nudge all the time). This was the first time I had a good search for the planets when they were high in the sky. It made it a lot easier than trying to find them aroung 10 pm or so. After finding Uranus I started to dance to Depeche Mode's Waiting for the night to fall and Dream On this also wouldn't have been a pretty sight but I was so happy (If I didn't have a bad back I would have done cart wheels and back flips). By this time I was able to have a good look at Mars as it was well and truely on the rise. I couldn't make out much detail at all but it was bright and shiney and there was a hint of darker patches near the bottom right of the bubbling mass(wishful thinking again I think) All in all I thought it was the most exciting night I have had under the stars.
Beaudy Gazza! About time eh? Congratulations. There's no better feeling than to finally get a nasty in your FOV...two in one night is even better!Well done.
Thanks John I couldn't have done it without the help and support of all you friendly people. It's good to be part of something that helps and encourages people to get out and have a go.
Now Pluto is the only planet left for me to find.
Somehow I dont think I will have much luck with my 8" might have to leave that one alone until I can upgrade to something bigger : )
I can't even find it with my 12.5"...But after saying that I'm positive that I've looked at it more than once but not recognized it. (sound familiar?) Could only be done with astrophotography over a period of days, then 'spot-the-dot-that-moves lol..
yep. As I have a dob I would need to freehand draw what I saw and then hope I was looking in the right place, or else I would be drawing the same stars over and over again At mag +13.6-16.0 I will need to use a lot of imagination
yep. As I have a dob I would need to freehand draw what I saw and then hope I was looking in the right place, or else I would be drawing the same stars over and over again At mag +13.6-16.0 I will need to use a lot of imagination
And thats exactly how I found Pluto.
It took a few good nights and commitment but I finally got him in the end. At the time though, Pluto was in a fairly empty starfield which made it easier.
Your 12" will pick it up John, give it a go.
Congrats Gazza
I remember the first time in the 8" SCT 15mm super wide
I tracked the suckers for over an hour at the eyepiece
I swear the images of Uranus & Neptune seemed as big as Mars in the end
kept going back every night till the location was second nature
I'm commited to a point...But not THAT commited! I know I saw it in amongst the other stars in the FOV. I just can't confirm which lil' star was pluto lol. I'm happy to move on to another 'arch nemesis' now..
Thanks john that detailed map will be a real help. All I need now is clear skies...
Let alone spending a month or so like you have.
