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Old 15-08-2010, 12:10 PM
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okiscopey (Mike)
Rocky Peak Observatory

okiscopey is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Kandos NSW
Posts: 536
Steve, your October 2007 viewing of all the (then) nine planets (including Earth by astroron's sensible direction!) must have been a buzz, and very well done. Yes, perhaps asteroids are the next targets!

I note that it took at least a 9-hour span for you to achieve the planetary viewings, but it's obviously possible to do it in less time, as in my recent 5-hour slot. (Pluto was in fact well-placed if I'd had the gear and observing experience to be able to pick it up.)

However, as you say, locating Pluto is a completely different level of difficulty, and I'd restricted my relatively easy challenge to just eyes and binoculars.

StephenM did this in a similar time (but used a dSLR to 'retrospectively' identify Neptune on the computer screen … hmm, not sure that counts!).

So, has anyone else viewed all eight planets Mercury to Neptune (including Earth!) directly by eye/binoculars in a shorter time period?

Alternatively, does your planetarium program suggest any amazing viewing opportunities … past, present or future?
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