Finding Neptune in the Night Sky
October 29th 2007 02:39
The weather in south east Queensland has been overcast lately. I am not complaining as the much need rain is badly needed. I had hoped to take some photos of the comets and I hope to do so later this week but for now something a little different.
I was asked a question recently on whether we can see the planet Neptune with the naked eye.
The answer is yes ( but only just) if you know where to look. To the naked eye Neptune looks like an ordinary dim star.
Of all the planets in the Solar System, Neptune is one of the least planet imaged by amateurs. Despite its large size, its distance means that Neptune appears as little more than a tiny blue disc 2.5 arcseconds across, with a magnitude of 7.8 during even when seen through a large telescope.
Although it's difficult to get much detail out of a photograph Of Neptune, it is possible to capture it with its moon Triton. At magnitude 13.5, Triton is significantly fainter than its parent planet, but is still within the range of many amateur telescopes.
Triton's orbit separates it from Neptune by 10to15 arcseconds .
I have included a map of where neptune will be in the night sky if you are in the country conditions for viewing will be at their best for people living in cities the lights will be a bit of a challange. Look to the west at around 7:30 pm EAST.
You will need a telescope with a 14 cm mirror or larger to see Neptune and one of it’s largest moons. With a good telescope and a DSLR camera and a bit of practice you can get an image of Neptune with it’s moon Triton. There isn't enough light from Triton for a normal Astro webcam, but versions modified for long exposures work well, Similarly, capturing Neptune and Triton with a DSLR or an astronomical CCD camera is also straightforward, although the pair will appear rather small on a DSLR image frame. If you have a digital camera and a telescope handy try practising on the planet first but don't expect see any detail all you'll see is a tiny disc. Once you've mastered this, overexpose the whole image which will make Neptune image overexposed until you see the tiny dot of Triton as a separate body it may take a bit of experimentation and patience you will get a image. It took me many attempts to get an image that I was happy with. I know it is somewhat difficult but the challenge is worth the effort.
image of Neptune with moon Triton
I was asked a question recently on whether we can see the planet Neptune with the naked eye.
The answer is yes ( but only just) if you know where to look. To the naked eye Neptune looks like an ordinary dim star.
Of all the planets in the Solar System, Neptune is one of the least planet imaged by amateurs. Despite its large size, its distance means that Neptune appears as little more than a tiny blue disc 2.5 arcseconds across, with a magnitude of 7.8 during even when seen through a large telescope.
Triton's orbit separates it from Neptune by 10to15 arcseconds .
I have included a map of where neptune will be in the night sky if you are in the country conditions for viewing will be at their best for people living in cities the lights will be a bit of a challange. Look to the west at around 7:30 pm EAST.
You will need a telescope with a 14 cm mirror or larger to see Neptune and one of it’s largest moons. With a good telescope and a DSLR camera and a bit of practice you can get an image of Neptune with it’s moon Triton. There isn't enough light from Triton for a normal Astro webcam, but versions modified for long exposures work well, Similarly, capturing Neptune and Triton with a DSLR or an astronomical CCD camera is also straightforward, although the pair will appear rather small on a DSLR image frame. If you have a digital camera and a telescope handy try practising on the planet first but don't expect see any detail all you'll see is a tiny disc. Once you've mastered this, overexpose the whole image which will make Neptune image overexposed until you see the tiny dot of Triton as a separate body it may take a bit of experimentation and patience you will get a image. It took me many attempts to get an image that I was happy with. I know it is somewhat difficult but the challenge is worth the effort.
image of Neptune with moon Triton
Not the best image ever taken but it can be achieved with a bit of practice
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