Pluto Report: SUCCESS

[Jnicholes]

So, interesting story.

I use my GOTO mount to go and point to Pluto to take long exposures.

Its cloudy here, so I couldnt do the second exposure to track pluto tonight. I decided to go through all my Pluto exposure attempts, hoping to find something. Sure enough, I discovered that two photos, taken 10 days apart, had the same stars. Here are the pictures:

Night 1

Ten days later

I discovered that the three stars on the TOP of night one are the same stars on the BOTTOM of the picture taken 10 days later.

I zoomed in on both those areas, AFTER brightening the photos to make the stars more visible.

Pictures:

Night 1

Ten days later

Same stars, no doubt. HOWEVER, in the second one, taken 10 days after the first, one VERY faint star was MISSING from the photo.

I went through the photo of night 1 and ten days later, doing a lot to make the stars more visible to confirm it. Sure enough, one DID disappear.

Pluto

That, my friends, is Pluto. I did it.

If I am incorrect, please let me know.

Jared

[Ylem]

Pretty cool Jared!!!!

[DeanD]

Well done Jared!

Do you have the dates/times of the exposures? That way you could definitely confirm with a planetarium program.

Keep up the good work!

Dean

[Graeme1858]

What a buzz! Well done Jared.

Regards

Graeme

[John Baars]

Well done!
Thanks for your great report!

[MistrBadgr]

Congratulations, Jared!

[KingNothing13]

Very cool Jared - you should definitely try to confirm with planetarium software - that would be easy enough with location, time and date.

[Jnicholes]

A looked on Stellarium and compared the photos with the date and time.

I apologize, but I was wrong. I did NOT track Pluto. it wasnt even in the field of view of ALL the photos.

Sorry for getting you all excited......

[Lady Fraktor]

Better luck with another attempt.
Are you taking images or video? I assume afocal imaging?

[DeanD]

A looked on Stellarium and compared the photos with the date and time.

I apologize, but I was wrong. I did NOT track Pluto. it wasnt even in the field of view of ALL the photos.

Sorry for getting you all excited......

If the "star" wasn't Pluto and it wasn't random noise, maybe it was an asteroid? That would be cool too!

Keep up the good work!

All the best,

Dean

[MistrBadgr]

I am still watching and waving the "Pom Poms" for you!

[turboscrew]

I, too, wish you'd try again.

[Unitron48]

Great effort! Pluto is challenging. Keep working on it!!

Dave

[Jnicholes]

Thanks, guys. I appreciate it. I think I’m gonna put the Pluto project on hold for right now, and work on different one.

Right now I am halfway done with the Messier AP challenge.

[Bigzmey]

Thanks, guys. I appreciate it. I think I’m gonna put the Pluto project on hold for right now, and work on different one.

Right now I am halfway done with the Messier AP challenge.

A wise choice. Pluto is a hard target, you chances will improve with your experience.