Neptune and Uranus

[Adamski]

Hi all. I was wondering if it's possible to see Neptune and Uranus with my 150pl? will they just be specks of light or something more substantial? I noticed that we are closing in on them now that we have passed by saturn. Cheers,.

[gliderpilot]

Well try first and see how you get on but yes you can see both with your 6" as small discs. Both can be seen with binos and Uranus, near opposition, can be seen with the naked eye at 6 mag.

[virtualpilot45]

I've got the 150P, which has a shorter focal length, and I'm hoping to try to see Neptune later on in the year, when the skies start to darken. I can see Saturn's 8.2 mag moon Titan, and Neptune is roughly twice as bright (7.7), but I do expect it to put up a fight

[Telrad]

I'm going to give Neptune and Uranus a go when the skies clear. Hopefully by mid-week ?

[swamp thing]

Hi Adamski

As stated both Uranus and Neptune are within the abilities of your scope.

I have observed Uranus with a 4 1/2" Newt and resolved the disc without to much trouble.

I have always found it to be a featureless greyish green disc. I personally don't find it shows as much colour as Neptune.

Neptune is somewhat harder to resolve into a disc.

Once resolved I have seen it as a quite colourful blue disc with considerable limb darkening.

Use as much magnification as the seeing allows.

Good hunting

Regards Steve

[Telrad]

Hi Adamski

As stated both Uranus and Neptune are within the abilities of your scope.

I have observed Uranus with a 4 1/2" Newt and resolved the disc without to much trouble.

I have always found it to be a featureless greyish green disc. I personally don't find it shows as much colour as Neptune.

Neptune is somewhat harder to resolve into a disc.

Once resolved I have seen it as a quite colourful blue disc with considerable limb darkening.

Use as much magnification as the seeing allows.

Good hunting

Regards Steve

Steve,

That's great. I'll know what to look for now too. 'featureless greyish disc' for Uranus and will probably have to try a little harder with Neptune. I'll also up the game with magnification as you suggest. Thanks

[virtualpilot45]

Unfortunately, Uranus is probably beyond my eyesight because of local light pollution. I can see Mizar when I stare straight in its direction, and that's 4th mag, anything else needs averted vision.