Having trouble locating neptune. I'm definitely looking in the right area,(give or take 1/2 an FOV lol)... just having trouble determining weather the object I'm looking at/suspect to be neptune...is INDEED neptune. I can make out a VERY small disk...unless it's a stars airy-disk....with an object fairly close to it. From my star charts I can't determine if there should be a star of probably half the brightness of (suspected) neptune, close to it. I can see both objects in the same FOV with F/8 6" refractor 6mm ortho EP....Surely this is not >TRITON!<
I suspect It's not neptune I'm seeing, but just a star?
I would say it is Neptune John, my SNP came up with this 53' x 34' view for last night ~5 am - the bright star around 1 arc minute away is mag 8.4, the only brightish star in FOV - check the movement of neptune over coming nights to confirm (if its still clear that is) btw triton is mag 13.47 i dont think your digicam would pick that up in a single shot. Congrats nice capture mate - I'm impressed
Kearn
EDIT: woops the first red dot near star is for last night, neptune in second position for tonight
Last edited by fringe_dweller; 08-07-2005 at 07:57 PM.
Seems to confirm it, but I'm still not 100% convinced. As you suggest, I will confirm it properly by planetary movement over a period of time. Iv'e been getting myself familiar with knowing where uranus & neptune is over several nights. I can now swing the scope straight onto them now. (providing the 2nd object is neptune lol) time will tell.
I have pics of uranus too, but their rather crappy to put on site.
Thats not that bad for a single shot with the kodak - I like it! interesting colour - your getting quite good at this John - considering you hadnt even looked at them till recently!! - I have never been patient enough to have a go at these tiny subjects, afocally - but have always admired and respected people that give it a go, and these are all still hand held shots using a timer i assume!!!! gulp!
Kearn
No mate. These were all taken last night, this time I actually bolted the camera to the achro. The next stage is to drag out the big guy & have a go with that. They will be better shots for sure! Going to be tricky with no drive though. (yup...used the 10 sec delay for the neptune/uranus shots) & thanks for your kind comments mate! I appreciate it tremendously.....Next up is PLUTO! *GULP!!*
Don't think its Triton though John, nice as that would be. Triton currently is 13.47 mag and only 13 arcsec from neptune. Neptune is currently mag7.84. Check out the Hip catalogue for HIP105131 or the tycho cat for TYC6347-1493-1. Its currently 2' 50" from Neptune.
Try hitting the targets in the area with high magnification (240x +).
Neptune will be the one that forms an albeit small disc. Where as
the other possible targets (ie: stars) will always have a point source
of light. This is how I was told located Neptune, and it worked for me.
Once you do locate it you will you should be able to notice which one
it is at lower power as it has a slightly duller appearence than stars.
Yes I have found both Neptune and Uranus to be quite different to the stars around them. The planets form a more consistent disc of light with little variation in intensity from the centre out - not so with the stars. Also, the faint blue tinge sets them apart. FWIW, the GOTO accuracy with LX200, especially using high accuracy mode, places these planets consistently in the centre of the FOV, which is great for a newby like my who would have no chance otherwise!
I went with 8" eq mounted for my first real scope (the 60mm tasco... well need I say more) so I had to learn to star hop which took like 5 minutes. It's really just learning a few constellations. And then learning to know what your actually looking at. I must admit if I had went for goto the challenge would not be there. It took me months of searching to find Uranus and Neptune. Until some one said try a higher mag. Actually now I can see them straight through my finder lol. But I can tell you I leapt for joy once I did... the satifying feeling had me grinning for days that feeling is priceless... and to think if I had of paid more for a goto scope I would of taken that feeling away. I get that feeling everytime manual star hop and discover something new... plus the amount of things I've logged through star hopping to a location. Things I would of missed with goto. And I dont think I would visually know the sky as well as I do now. I love the hunt!
One day I want one of them big sexy looking goto's... but hell, not until I get me a HUGE! Dob lol... with DSC's of course
Couldn't agree with you more Rob. There's no beating that feeling! Fine comments, & you've summed up my feelings on astronomy in general in a few short statements.
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