Uranus & Neptune

[Charlie_132]

Hello,

I have been stargazing since 2012 and may of seen these two planets a couple of times before, but I am not 100% sure.

Just wondering if there is anyone from Stevenage in Hertfordshire who would be willing to show me these two planets one evening?
 

Thanks

[stevend]

I recommend downloading Stellarium. Set your location, search for the object and then 'fast forward' the clock to when you intend to be viewing.

[Charlie_132]

Oh I have stellarium, just I am not sure if I have actually viewed Uranus and Neptune ever.

Would be nice to observe with someone who has 100% seen them and knows what they look like just so I can see them/get a idea of how to find them on my own. Then I can maybe attempt to image them.

All i know is that Uranus appears as a small pale green dot/disc at higher mag, and Neptune is a blue dot/disc.

[swamp thing]

Hi Charlie what kit are you using to try and see them ?

[PorkyB]

I saw Uranus earlier this week.  You will need plenty of magnification to make them out as discs to be sure they are planets.  At x200 Uranus was obviously as disc, very pale green.  Neptune needs even more magnification or very good eyesight, although its colour is more obvious.

[Paul73]

If you are still unsure. View it. Sketch it in relation to a couple of near by stars. Then go back and do it again a couple of days later. If it has moved in relation to the other stars, then you have got it!

Stelarium is the easier option.

Paul

[Guy Wells]

Tricky knowing whether it is indeed them. I imaged the dot to check...Neptune and Triton

[cutepetgroomer]

While I don't have stellarium, I use a similar program when I am unsure. I have yet to break out the sketch pad yet. But my astronomy class knowledge plus my book and app etc has helped me to determine more or less what I am looking in terms of the deep space items. Planets I more or less have an idea already.

[Moonshane]

I usually plot their progress across the sky each year in pencil in my sky and telescope pocket sky atlas and mark then with a small arrow post it. this allows me to see where they are at a glance and which way they are going roughly. the attached are p.5 (Uranus) and p. 76 (Neptune). you are looking for a mag 6 star not shown in the case of Uranus and a mag 8 star in the case of Neptune. if you get the right area you will see a very small disk at 100x in both cases and at 200x this will be very obvious. the colours help too. to my eyes Neptune is obviously blue and Uranus a sort of 'apple white'. 

[Grotemobile]

I usually plot their progress across the sky each year in pencil in my sky and telescope pocket sky atlas and mark then with a small arrow post it. this allows me to see where they are at a glance and which way they are going roughly. the attached are p.5 (Uranus) and p. 76 (Neptune). you are looking for a mag 6 star not shown in the case of Uranus and a mag 8 star in the case of Neptune. if you get the right area you will see a very small disk at 100x in both cases and at 200x this will be very obvious. the colours help too. to my eyes Neptune is obviously blue and Uranus a sort of 'apple white'. 

 

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DSCF0539.JPG

 

Thanks for that.Neptune in Aquarius.

Uranus in Pisces.Found them both.

Steve

[Dave In Vermont]

Stellarium is excellent and it's free. I should just like to add another excellent planetarium program - Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts) which is also free:

http://www.ap-i.net/skychart/en/start

And happy hunting Uranus and Neptune. I love their color in both my 127mm F9.3 refractor and my 304mm F10 SCT. They are truly under-rated in my opinion.

Clear Skies,

Dave

[Captain Harlock]

Stellarium is indeed very good.

I also find the SkEye Android application to be a great help. It has a night view option which is quite handy on the field.

[Charlie_132]

Thanks for all the replies, I have a 127 mak.

Is it possible to see it with a 25mm eyepiece to start with, then up to magnification?

Tonight is meant to be clear, so  I am going to have a look around 9:30 ish
If anyone in Stevenage reads this and fancies some company while observing tonight, I would be happy to join them.