Spotting Planetary Moons

[John]

Having managed to spot Neptune's brightest moon Triton a few times recently, I'm interested to find out what other planetary moons we can see with amateur scopes. I came across this recent article on the UniverseToday website which addresses just this issue:

http://www.universetoday.com/121405/a-guide-to-observing-the-moons-of-the-solar-system/

For me, I think Uranus is a next challenge. I reckon Titania and Oberon might be possible with my 12" dob. I was also unaware that both Phobos and Deimos, Mars tiny moons, could be possibilties next year when Mars is at opposition. I've yet to see Mimas at Saturn either.

Others with larger apertures might be able to go further than this ?

[Dave In Vermont]

Good article, John. Thank you for posting it. I may well put some Moons on my agenda of astro-sights.

Cheers,

Dave

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Very interesting. It does encourage another bout of aperture fever, however

[Stu]

Nice post John. I've not really given this any effort at so will certainly have a go. Might roll out the 16" for a crack at it, although I imagine seeing conditions are pretty critical so might have to head somewhere away from home

[Paul73]

It is certainly mind boggling to think that we can spot satellites of these distant giants.

Uranus' Oberon is a bit of a stretch but doeable in my 10" with good steady seeing.

Paul

[Dave In Vermont]

I'll bet using a video-camera would haul in some Moons that our eyes can't see with smaller aperture scopes. Like my dainty 12" ones.

Hmmm.....

Dave

[laudropb]

Very useful article. Thanks for sharing.

[Moonshane]

I think often that lower powers are important to spot the fainter moons. This sort of article is great as it provides some focus (pun intended) to sessions and makes them a lot more rewarding.

[Moonshane]

BTW with a name like the author's I'd have thought that he'd be into the sun more than the moons. 

[Mike73]

I think it will be very much a case of choosing the correct eyepiece/exit pupil to try and match the surface brightness of the moons.

Nice little challenge though John.