|
Did a quick look through Jas' threads, and he's got a 6" scope.
Colour is a tricky thing with the low levels of light we have to contend with and our very human eyes. Photos are actually the very worst way to represent colour that 'can' be seen. The reality the cameras used are much more sensitive than our eyes, the exposure times run into the hours, and the processing software is very powerful. The end result is a misrepresentation of what can actually be seen directly through the eyepiece (with exceptions). Photographs are a completely different representation of the night sky. The end result is that novices expect to see through a scope what we see in these amazing images.
You mentioned the Jewel Box. There are several red stars in the cluster, but just eyeballing it directly, we really only see one standout red star. I like to describe the cluster to first time observers as "a smattering of diamonds with a ruby thrown in". I've found this works to have these first timers to suss out the 'ruby'.
Other notable red stars are Antares in Scoripus, gamma crux (the 'top' star in the Southern Cross), and Betelgeuse in Orion. If detecting their colouration is difficult, use averted vision and a bit of patience. The brilliance of these stars can overwhelm the colour.
In so far as the colour blue goes, blue is one of least easily seen colours by our eyes at low light levels. So, for Neptune to be distinguished by its blue colouration, it is very intense and vivid. The intense colour that we see in photos of Neptune is actually what we seen through the scope, but as a pin point of light.
Uranus' bluish/green colour likewise, take your time with it.
See how you go.
|