{"id":323,"date":"2013-07-18T00:05:59","date_gmt":"2013-07-17T22:05:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.planetary-astronomy-and-imaging.com\/?p=323"},"modified":"2018-09-18T21:28:49","modified_gmt":"2018-09-18T19:28:49","slug":"how-to-image-the-belts-of-uranus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.planetary-astronomy-and-imaging.com\/en\/how-to-image-the-belts-of-uranus\/","title":{"rendered":"How to image the belts of Uranus"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2012, we have seen for probably the first time in History, amateur observers imaging non-ambiguous details on the disk of Uranus. With the following tutorial, learn how to do it by yourself !<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"ubeltRG\"

In 2011 and 2012, there have been great images of Uranus with details taken at the Pic du Midi<\/a>. In the summer of 2012, Fran\u00e7ois Emond<\/a> has been the first amateur to succeed in imaging belts without any doubts, with the same method, quickly followed by several other amateurs<\/a>. Learn here how they did it :)<\/p>\n

As a prerequisite, the seeing MUST be at least very good, and if possible, excellent to superb.<\/strong> No result will be obtained under average seeing.<\/p>\n

What equipment do I need ?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Imaging the belts of Uranus is the last frontier broken by amateur astronomers. It is certainly one the most difficult observation, if not THE most difficult.<\/p>\n

You will need preferentially a big instrument. Four observers have succeeded in doing so with instruments of 250 mm (me, Flavius Isac<\/a>, who much regrettably passed away last winter, Richard Schrantz and Paul Maxson), but this is currently the lower limit of diameter. A C11 will already be fine, but telescopes of 350 to 400 mm will be best here.<\/p>\n

You will need to use a performing b&w camera, preferentially those equipped with a CCD highly sensitive in the red and near-infrared part of the spectrum. Colour cameras won’t be up to the task.<\/p>\n

You will also need a filter able to reveal the belts !<\/p>\n

What filter should I use ?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The experiences made in 2012 prove that there are two filters that will allow you to catch details on Uranus : a very large IR-pass, and a larger R+IR filter. The Baader IR 685 has been the most successful because it combines both a very good contrast effect on belts and the best possible light transmission for near infrared.<\/p>\n

However, the planet is very dark in that color band, this is because a R+IR filter (that transmits both the visible red light AND the near infrared) is a nice alternative. The contrast will be lower, but the resolution will be better (remember how much resolution is reduced when you go toward infrared<\/a>) and there will be noticeably more light available to speed the frame rate.<\/p>\n

So you may choose the filter considering two criteria :<\/strong><\/p>\n