Viewing Uranus and Neptune

[Vegeta]

Hi, I've lately decided to divert my attention from my regular deep space observing to observing Uranus and Neptune. I've checked their position, and they are appearing in the worst part of the sky at my place. There's a mild amount light pollution. My observing is done at Kemps Creek and my scope is a 12" Dobsonian.

How many of their moons will I see? will the light pollution wash them away? Will they display any colour? :confused2:

- Bintel BT302 12" Dobsonian
- Bintel Widefield 26mm
- Plossl 15mm
- Plossl 9mm
- Orion Edge-On Planetary 6mm
- Televue 2x Barlow

[steve000]

With my 6" last year when Uranus was near jupiter I saw a small blue disk, no moon that were obvious to me I have not "seen" uranus however i was tired and i probably was looking straight at it and thought it was a star.

also.. VEGETA what do.... nah im not gonna do it any more.

See the pic though, you may find it amusing

[mental4astro]

G'day Ibrahim,

Chasing down Uranus and Neptune isn't a problem for a 12" scope. I've managed it in an 8", and Uranus was visible in binoculars from my home. Neptune should be visible & recognisable from urban areas, though with a scope rather than binos.

This I've copied from my reply to a similar thread in the Beginners forum:


"Sky and Telescope magazine also produces a finder chart for both Uranus and Neptune that can be printed. I don't take a computer with me, only charts, so this one is just fine for me:

2011 Uranus and Neptune finder chart (http://media.skyandtelescope.com/documents/Uranus-Neptune-2011.pdf)

Note in spotting Neptune, you won't see a disk with it. Its tell-tale signature is its very intense blue colour which is too deep to be a star.

Uranus has a tiny disk, but it is featureless and really, really tiny, even at high power. But the disk is there and is noticably larger than the pin prick that a star is. Its more distinguishing feature is its colour too, Uranus being a pale greeny-blue. Some folks see it as being more green, others more blue - colour perception is very subjective.

Both of these planets are close to each other in the sky right now."


The Uranian and Neptunian moon present a real challenge. Neptunes are just about invisible to amateur instruments, while Uranus has upto 4 that are visible. BUT, keep in mind that they are real faint. I believe that there are charts to help find them, Stellarium may be one such tool. Triton, Neptune's largest moon, is a dim object at magnitude 13.5.

Let us know how you go.

[Vegeta]

Thanks, i'm going to hunt down these planets as soon as this crazy weather permits me to do so. the weather has been changing so rapidly lately. I'll let you know when i spot the planets or any of their moons (weather permitting)

steve, The pic is quite funny:lol: (its over 9000!!!)