Found Uranus

[badgerchap]

Finally managed to tease Uranus out from the darkness! Really difficult, as it first looks like a dim star in the FOV. colour was how I found it, a slight minty green, and of course, no flicker. Took me about 30mins to find it, even using Jupiter as a signpost. Really worth it in the end, as I felt like I'd really worked for it, unlike something as obvious as M42, which is rewarding at all. OK, so here's the question:

If it's this hard to find Uranus, does anyone have any advice about how to spot Neptune?

[Demonperformer]

It is about 1.5 degrees from mu Cap at the moment.

http://stargazerslounge.com/imaging-planetary/110714-project-august.html has pics of the general area and approximate path it will follow. mu cap is off the right hand side of the picture. diameter of the picture is approximately 1 degree.

Personally, I find the six-star pattern at the bottom right to be particularly helpful:

[badgerchap]

Hehe - thanks for that! Armed with your sound advice, out I went, only to spend 2 hours waiting for a band of very stubborn cloud to move out of the way. It was the only cloud in the sky and it stayed there all night! Grrrrr! And no more clear skies since, so unfortunately, neptune will have to wait!

[shaunster]

Nice find, i havent seen it yet myself just to tick it off the list

[Dave Smith]

I must admit I "cheat" by using the EQmod goto system and was looking at Uranus and Neptune the other evening.

Dave

[badgerchap]

Yeah, wish I could do that! No goto on my dob

[kidlands]

I tried but failed miserably, one for another night I think.

[Chris H]

I got to see Uranus for the first time the other night too, it's great to add another planet to the list. Only Neptune and Pluto to go.

[toml42]

I caught it the other night

[Demonperformer]

Only Neptune and Pluto to go.

Pluto is only a dwarf planet, and if you are including those, you also have Ceres, Eris, Makemake and Huamea to go as well:D

[badgerchap]

Not to mention the asteroids....

[bish]

With Uranus and Neptune I check the position on Starry Night and then pop out onto the balcony with my bins - makes spotting them much easier. Once you know where they are keeping a track on them is a doddle.

[Chris H]

Pluto is only a dwarf planet, and if you are including those, you also have Ceres, Eris, Makemake and Huamea to go as well:D

NO:eek:

[Steve 1962]

Found Uranus for the first time just a few minutes ago! Quite faint and small but definately green. Now think I've got Neptune but can't see a disc or colour. Is that about right for a 100mm f9 refractor with a cheap 5mm EP??

Even if it isn't Neptune I'm chuffed to bits with Uranus!

[Helen]

Me too! just got it, but Neptune is behind trees so will have to wait

Helen

[george7378]

I had a good look last night and I may well have seen it, but all the brighter, blue objects looked like points. Will I discern a disk at 90X magnification?

[njs]

I've just been out tonight and found Uranus for the first time ever. Fantastic. Used Jupiter as a signpost and directions from Stellarium it was really easy to find tonight. Blinking clouds kept getting in the way though but I'm well chuffed now. Just Neptune left to see, can't wait. Beautiful.

[Mouse on the Moon]

Saw it for the first time last night. Very very small disc at 216x. Magic!

[bombassa]

I *think* I found this too last night. It was very small yet different from the stars in both colour and size. But not much.

[Wbarkingmad]

Yep, me too! I just found Uranus with my 8 inch dob and a 10mm Celestron X-cel. Very satisfying and just the vaugest hint of colour maybe?? Jupiter was very clear too.

[nibber]

Yes I saw Uranus Friday night for the first time,also showed my father in law,also saw M31 Andromeda Galaxy for the first time but cheated as i have goto !

[Moonshane]

It is about 1.5 degrees from mu Cap at the moment.

http://stargazerslounge.com/imaging-planetary/110714-project-august.html has pics of the general area and approximate path it will follow. mu cap is off the right hand side of the picture. diameter of the picture is approximately 1 degree.

Personally, I find the six-star pattern at the bottom right to be particularly helpful:

Nice one DP, this helped me find Neptune last night for the first time

It also confirms that I was correct as it was exactly where the map shows. In the scope I found both Uranus and Neptune are definitely different to stars and an obvious small disc at reasonable magnification (I saw them both in my 6" at 200x). In the finder the asterism you pointed out was very helpful as a 'pointer'.

Cannot wait for a better night of seeing although I suspect the detail wont be any greater

Cheers!

Shane

[Mr George]

Me too - just seen Uranus for the first time with my new scope.

Tiny little greenish disk. I'm wondering if it'll be possible to see its moons...

[Steve922]

So which is the more rewarding? Finding it or looking at it?

Steve

[Mr George]

So which is the more rewarding? Finding it or looking at it?

Steve

Finding it was quite rewarding but then so was looking at it. Ok, so I've no chance of seeing any detail but just seeing that little disk was pretty cool.