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brightest and dimest naked eye planets.

Discussion in 'Observing Celestial Objects' started by kevan hubbard, Nov 7, 2016.

brightest and dimest naked eye planets.

Started by kevan hubbard on Nov 7, 2016 at 8:15 AM

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  1. kevan hubbard

    kevan hubbard Well-Known Member

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    Last night I was able to view the brightest and dimest naked eye planets on one night. Firstly Venus shining bright but low followed by Uranus but I'm not sure if I saw Uranus with the naked eye as there are a lot of dim stars to confuse it with.it was easy in a small optical aid.
     
  2. Mark Moyer

    Mark Moyer Member

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    Pretty cool, Kevan!
     
  3. bventrudo

    bventrudo Staff

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    Pretty impressive Kevan! That's about a factor of 1000 in brightness between the two. I've always wondered why pre-telescopic stargazers never noticed Uranus. It was just not bright enough to grab their attention, I suppose.

    -Brian
     
  4. kevan hubbard

    kevan hubbard Well-Known Member

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    Indeed Uranus will have been seen by humans,and other good sighted animals!,since the beginning of complex life on earth just not recognised as a 'wanderer'.humans in the pre telescope age would have seen it as one of many faint stars and their limiting magnitude would be better prior to light pollution. Prior to Herschel it's movement does not seem to have been noticed but some telescopic observers like Flamsteed seem to have recorded Uranus as a faint star. Unlike Neptune which was only seen in the telescopic era,Uranus is thus hard to put in a category as a/it is,just,naked eye and b/must have been seen millions of years ago.it's a sort of hybrid of ancient era and modern era!
     

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