Mine is that other hazy blue wonder, Neptune. I've always found its colour to be totally alluring and somewhat soothing. Although it's a really nasty place to live, it sure looks nice...
It's kind of interesting to see the results - I can tell it's mainly adults voting because if it was kids it would be something more like Mars, Pluto then Neptune. Haven't quite worked out what the attraction to Neptune is with them yet but one parent was very helpful one day and suggested it was not only the nice deep blue colour but in some popular cartoon of the moment the characters came from Neptune.
Saturn's got my vote. The rings have always facinated me and are great to see. It also gets a WOW factor out of everyone who sees it through the scope.
I've never actually observed any celestial objects through a telescope!
I did however vote on Saturn, from all those days in primary school 'reading' those solar system books in the library and just being impressed. Venus was also pretty cool - except I always found it a little exasperating having none of my classmates believe that it was hotter than Mercury!
On Mercury - I also like the messenger! I didn't realise how visible it could actually be until I bothered to look at the right time of the year.
Greenish Uranus is awesome for being on its side and all... But again, the aspect of primary school's peer-reviewed-opinions doesn't really lend too much respect there.
I guess it's Saturn for now until I get to actually watch Jupiter's spot and satellites for a while.
I chose in the poll Venus only because when Galileo first looked throught his new invention the telescope he saw that Venus went through phases,This proved that Venus orbited the Sun and that was proof of Sun centered Solar System ( A beutifull invention the telescope ) So History for me chooses Venus
Definatly Saturn. When I was 8 years old the firts "star" I looked at happened to be Saturn. Even with a 4.5" reflector the view was AMAZING
It worked wonders on a very young and impressionable boy.
Second would be Pluto and as you can see by the name on the 18" scope it has left an impression. I can remember a night when Greg Bryant and Myself were looking not for Pluto but Charon. We had a finder chat and had excelent seeing. Both Greg and I were not sure but it was a good night. MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE.......
Jupiter for the observing (voted).
Saturn for the awe factor.
Uranus, Mercury and Neptune for the thrill of the hunt.
I cannot but resist stating the satisfaction of showing people things they thought weren't possible, or even better; the potential of their actual capabilities.
If you ask someone whether or not they want to see Mercury 'later in the arvo', they'll invariably ask if they'll need a telescope. Same for bright satellites and flares.
As the first planet I've ever viewed, it holds a bit of significance to me... and its the planet that gives the best depth of field effects (looks most 3d) due to its rings....
I was torn a bit however, Whilst saturn is my favorite, Jupiter is my most viewed, due to its ever changing surface and monumental size....
Venus displays crescent phases, like the moon. There's just no visible features in white light.
Actually that's not quite true. With an 8" or bigger, you can often make out vague shadings, especially if you use a moon filter to knock down the glare. You can also see some polar brightening (not sure what causes this--certainly not icecaps!). More controversially there is the so called Ashen Light, which I believe I have seen many times, but which many claim to be an optical illusion.
I gave Venus my vote btw.
Geoff.
What I like best about Jupiter is watching Shadow Transits.
I'll sit with my eyes glued to the eyepiece waiting for ingress. Trying to guess when it will start. Then when ingress is just about over and the shadow is almost all the way in, it seems to stretch just that little bit, like it's stuck to the edge of the planet, then it disengages and the transit begins.
For me it's exciting, riveting stuff.
It fills me with a sense of wonder and joy that I'm able to watch this happen in real time, it's an awesome spectacle.
Gee, no wonder the girls as work think I'm a bit strange.
Actually that's not quite true. With an 8" or bigger, you can often make out vague shadings, especially if you use a moon filter to knock down the glare. You can also see some polar brightening (not sure what causes this--certainly not icecaps!). More controversially there is the so called Ashen Light, which I believe I have seen many times, but which many claim to be an optical illusion.
I gave Venus my vote btw.
Geoff.
Hi Geoff,
I've observed Venus a few times with my 8" scope but I couldn't make out any surface details. Because of its close proximity to the Sun. When I observed Venus it was quite low in the sky so you could argue that is why I did not see any surface detail.
I agree that you should be able to see vague shadings when using filters but I would much rather observe Juptier or Saturn.
I voted Saturn. I've only ever viewed Saturn, Joop, Venus and Mars and those rings of Saturn just leave me stunned. I showed them to some guests the other night and they couldn't believe they were actually seeing this much detail - even with a telescope. Saturn it is for me - definitely
