Neptune...

Rockter · #1 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007

I tried to find Neptune again tonight, low to the SW, in Capricorn.

I was absolutely frozen... it was -5 degC.

I stood there, alone, in the dark with only the wee light of the power supply.

I could not find him even with my new classy refractor.

Everything was a-frozen and I needed scympathy... I got none.

I sulked home again.

Rockter.

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007

Sounds like you need a mug of hot Cocoa first...

Valiente · #3 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007

I don't know where you are, or how big your reflector is, but Neptune is an extraordinarily dim sky object. You'd need 200-power or better magnification, fairly precise co-ordinates, and a very dark sky you would be hard-pressed to find in Europe. The only truly dark sky I recall was that of the extreme west of Ireland, in both Clare and west of Dingle, and even little Dingle wrecks the sky to the east.

http://www.space.com/spacewatch/0711...s-neptune.html

Rockter · #4 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007

Val , thanks.

I have found Uranus (Uri as we call him) without a problem. Even through the viewfinder, it was visible clearly as a wee blue/green disc, and definitely nothing like a star, even at a magnification of 7. Through the 12" scope, with the wee camera, it has a definite disc....

http://s217.photobucket.com/albums/c...uswithtext.png

Neptune remains a challenge. Much fainter, but I keep looking for the disc, perhaps 2/3 the size of the Uranus disc. I was puzzled why Neptune was not blessed with some colour and I confess I could not be sure I had found him. I have not managed to transport the 12" scope with camera to the dark sky site. It is a huge scope and it'll need the lap-top also and a big battery for the lap-top (8 amp). Maybe we should try again in the early hours of the morning in late spring.

Rockter.

sailingdog · #5 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007

why does your big telescope need the laptop???

Sapperwhite · #6 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007

Rockter, I was only kidding about you being able to see Uranus, but congrats on the find anyway. Now, if you can find Planet X or Eris with that scope, that would be cool.

Rockter · #7 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007

Thanks there guys. Hey that really is an unfortunate name for what is a pretty planet.

Saildog..... the lap-top is needeed for the camera, to process the signal. The camera is vastly more sensitive than your eye. It really is a different game. You do not really need the camera for those outer planets, but the camera really can see a wee disc better than your eye.

cockeyedbob · #8 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007

Too old to be standin' out in the cold and damp, 'sides the Hubble and JPL spacecraft do much better than Bob ever could. The Celestron now hangs off an Alpha 700. Gee, Bob wishes he lived on a bluff overlooking a beach somewhere ... warm.

sailingdog · #9 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007

Damn new fangled technology... what ever happened to good old glass plates.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockter

Thanks there guys. Hey that really is an unfortunate name for what is a pretty planet.

Saildog..... the lap-top is needeed for the camera, to process the signal. The camera is vastly more sensitive than your eye. It really is a different game. You do not really need the camera for those outer planets, but the camera really can see a wee disc better than your eye.

CharlieCobra · #10 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007

CCD's are much faster. No more 8hr exposures for faint objects.