ICEINSPACE
Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
Last Quarter 41.2%
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08-10-2009, 08:49 PM
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Bright the hawk's flight
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Mt Duneed Vic
Posts: 3,982
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Uranus
Finally nabbed Uranus. Tried for it last year and think I got it, but couldn't see a disk so wasn't sure. This time hopped from 96 Aquarii, then slipped in the 13mm Nagler and sure enough, there was a little blue disc. Very excited. Tried the 6mm Plossl and the disc was slightly bigger but FOV was tiny so hard to hold in view. Any way, it was a thrill.
Now to try Neptune!
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09-10-2009, 12:11 AM
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The Observologist
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Billimari, NSW Central West
Posts: 1,664
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Neptune next ...
Hi Malcolm,
Well done on seeing Uanus the first time . Interesting that you saw it as blue. Don't get me wrong, colour is a very, very subjective thing and its perception varies quite a bit from person to person -- we don't all see colour exactly the same way.
I see you were using 12". In the 10-12" range, I always saw Uranus as yellowish green, though it tends to be darker and more greenish in my 18".
What do others see? What about the colour of Neptune? For me it looks greenish-blue. How is it for you?
Best,
Les D
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09-10-2009, 12:27 AM
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Enhanced Astronomer
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 753
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Preparation H anyone?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ngcles
Hi Malcolm,
Well done on seeing Uanus the first time
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09-10-2009, 01:26 AM
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The Observologist
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Billimari, NSW Central West
Posts: 1,664
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Doh !!
Hi Enchilada & All,
What can I say but: Doh!
Best,
Les D
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09-10-2009, 05:47 AM
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Enhanced Astronomer
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 753
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Uranus Article (11 pages)
I have attached an more general article written on Uranus for barx1963 and others.
It contains some general information abut the planet, moons, and rings. It also includes an ephemeris for 2009 and 2010.
Any comments or suggested improvements would be greatly appreciated.
Hope this is of interest.
Last edited by Enchilada; 09-10-2009 at 06:55 AM.
Reason: Minor Edit of Document Structure
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09-10-2009, 11:48 AM
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No obs, raising Harrison
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 795
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Nice catch - I have found it a few times in various scopes. Definitely looks green to me, while Neptune is a much more blue colour.
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09-10-2009, 12:50 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,838
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ngcles
Hi Enchilada & All,
What can I say but: Doh!
Best,
Les D
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Freudian slip
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09-10-2009, 01:53 PM
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kids+wife+scopes=happyman
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: sydney, australia
Posts: 4,980
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Uranus: emerald/lime-green
Neptune: strong sky-blue. Easily distinguishes it from surrounding stars with its vivid colour, with its lack of discernable disk.
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10-10-2009, 08:59 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Renmark, SA
Posts: 2,986
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Uranus appears a pale aqua to me, while Neptune is blue. Will have to check them out tonight!
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10-10-2009, 12:21 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Bright, Vic, Australia
Posts: 2,173
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pgc hunter
Uranus appears a pale aqua to me, while Neptune is blue. Will have to check them out tonight!
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Yep, that's how I see them.
Cheers -
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10-10-2009, 01:38 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 163
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I saw Uranus just recently and the color I got was a greenish blue, bit hard to explain. Neptune was definetly more blue.
Alex.
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11-10-2009, 06:01 AM
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Enhanced Astronomer
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 753
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Reasoning for the Different Colours of Uranus and Neptune
The colours are matched to the amount of methane in the planetary atmosphere
Methane happens to absorbs much of the faint red-light received from the Sun, which makes Neptune have the richer blue colour.
Uranus has a composition is approximately 82.5% Hydrogen, 15.2% Helium and 2.6% methane.
Neptune is 84% Hydrogen and 15% Helium, with the Methane content being the remaining about 3%.
Uranus appears greener because of the slightly higher temperature of the atmosphere, even though it has less methane. Neptune atmosphere probably also has some more of the colder icy methane.
As I understand it, the chemistry that is happening is not entirely understood, though I remember reading some inconclusive technical paper on experiments in the laboratory.
Regardless, the complex chemistry in the upper atmospheres of these outer planets is likely making the slight colour differences - 'greener' with Neptune'. Combined with the methane being the main contributor of the 'blueness' seen with both planets.
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11-10-2009, 11:31 PM
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Bright the hawk's flight
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Mt Duneed Vic
Posts: 3,982
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I guess the colour was probably more aqua, rather than a pure blue. I am planning to try for both Uranus and Neptune at SVAA on the weekend (weather permitting!) so hopefully will be able to provide a definite comparison. Will also be trying pick out minor planet 3 Juno.
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18-10-2009, 05:24 PM
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Bright the hawk's flight
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Mt Duneed Vic
Posts: 3,982
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Had a look again at Snake Valley over the weekend. Urnus in a fairly dark sky that we had on Friday night was definately greenish blue. Managed to find Neptune which was just barely a disc with a 9mm (167x) was much bluer than Uranus.
Also nabbed Juno, which was a tiny faint spark. Very pleasing!
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