wpo - Uranus & Neptune + satellites
Solar
system page Mars
and its moons Images copyright Maurice Gavin 1995-2006
2006 Aug 18: Again
a nine month gap to record Uranus in Capricornus and Neptune in Aquarius
via Canon Rebel [=300D] + lens.
2005 Nov 15-17: After
a two year gap Uranus and possible two satellites recorded via 30cm SCT
+Canon 300D SLR [cropped section + detail inset] in similar exposures to
SX 916 CCD made in previous years. Likewise for Neptune and Triton and
wide-angle 135mm fl lens shots [2.5% full frame]
2003 Sept 17/18:
Continued hazy skies [LVM ~2.5 in Cygnus!] so amazing to record near mag
18 at -17 Decl of Neptune via a CCD exposure. Triton's retrograde
motion about Neptune obvious in 24 hours but Nereid just below threshold
for conditions with field marked.
According to Redshift's presentation,
the polar alignment of Mars and Neptune on the star-sphere is similar so
both will have their Pole Star in a similar region!
.
2003 Sept 12: Full moon in
hazy skies and Uranus just visible in 8x50 finder a few degrees north proceeding
[Np] Mars.. However Uranus and faint moons Oberon [mag 14.1] and
Titania [mag 13.9] recorded with satellites identified via an older Redshift
v2.0. Megastar shows bright mag 11.1 field star Np Uranus
is GSC 5806:1424.
2003 Sept 7: Annual
return to lowly Neptune when clear of my neighbour's willow tree at a reasonable
hour but here a few degrees from a bright gibbous moon! This 60s
exposure through a Rainbow Optics grating, records Neptune's methane atmosphere
in the spectrum [inset]. The grating absorbs some light but stars
to ~mag 14 recorded including a 'star' close to the planet that computes
as Triton and shown enhanced [inset].
2002 Sept 2: Return after nearly
two years in good seeing despite low altitude to record Neptune's Triton
and Uranus' Titania [m16.5 below planet] and Oberon [m16.5 above planet].
The tiny disc of Uranus clear in 30cm Meade LX200 x 200.
2000 Nov 3 & 4: Return
visit after 5 years to record these planets now very low down in
Capricornus with their attendant satellites. Moon adjacent; seeing
fair; transparency poor - additionally Saturday Nov 4 was effectively Guy
Faukes Night with the sky alight with fireworks! Satellites
positively identified via Guide v7.0 although backtracking on the
Astronomical Ephemeris 1975 gave approximate positions.
1995 July 24/25: The four very faint satellites
of Uranus and Triton for Neptune recorded via 30cm Meade LX200 in
altaz mode + SX-M CCD in 20s exposures and identified from the Astronomical
Ephemeris. The planetary disks are grossly enlarged through over-exposure.