Uranus or Neptune?

[Craig.a.c]

Has anyone here tried to or has imaged either Uranus or Neptune? Seems like its only Jupiter and Saturn that get all the pics. I would be interested to see if anyone imaged either planet through a 12" or bigger scope.

[renormalised]

You don't need a scope that big to image or see them, but it helps. Even better if you have a good CCD/DSLR/LLV camera attached to your scope.

Your little Luminova will see them, if you know where to look and the Moon isn't out that night. Attach a NexStar or LPI imager to the scope and you'll definitely capture them.

[Craig.a.c]

Once the moon gets out of the night sky I am going to have a go at tracking them down. I don't know a thing about astrophotography, thats why I was wondering if anyone has imaged them.

[Ian Robinson]

Uranus : at present 3.55 arcseconds angular diameter.
Neptune : at present 2.33 arcseconds angular diameter
Saturn : at present 16.98 arcseconds angular diameter
Jupiter : at present 47.01 arcseconds angular diameter

People have done Mars when it's been a long way away and a few arc seconds angular diameter.

I think you'd need very good seeing conditions (still air) and very precise tracking and maybe a barlow or eyepiece to get a bigger image projected on the sensor.

[renormalised]

I haven't, yet...but I intend to once I get a decent night sky. It also helps to have good seeing and transparency as well. Makes it just that much easier to find and image them. If you do intend to image them yourself, get a reasonable dual axis drive system for your scope, so you can track what you're trying to look at.

[renormalised]

That's right, Ian. You want high power and damn good seeing to be successful. That's why so many people image Saturn and Jupiter instead. They're just so much easier to do.

[iceman]

My Uranus images here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/mygallery/thumbnails.php?album=36)

My Neptune images here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/mygallery/thumbnails.php?album=35)

Only a few of each. Definitely a tough target at long focal lengths, needs quite a long exposure (1/3s for example) - so tracking needs to be pretty spot on.

Visually I've seen them in my 10", and they are apparent as planets and not stars but Uranus more so. It's the colour that sets them apart.

[Ian Robinson]

Bit more to see too.

[[1ponders]]

It's surprising what you can do with small equipment. Eg ED80 or telephoto and DSLR.

Neptune animation (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=12110)

Uranus Animation (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment_browse.php?a=15538)

Triton Animation (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=12633) This animation was made up from cropped frames from the Neptune animation (and other frames taken later)

[renormalised]

Two greenie-blue blobs....very bland:D

[JimmyH155]

They may only be greenie-blue blobs, but they look fabulous - really eerie. Well done in capturing them:D

[duncan]

Could they be the Rings around Uranus in the animation (first two )?
Excellent work:thumbsup:

[[1ponders]]

No Duncan no such luck. :P The effect is actually two of Uranus' moons orbiting the planet. One gets eclipsed and one passes in front of the planet.

I've cropped the animation and resized it so you can see. Using the original images would have made it much clearer, but then I'd have to try to remember where I saved them. :P