The planet Uranus is at opposition on 9 September. It will be an easy object to find with binoculars or a small telescope as, at this time, it will be approximately 1/2 degree to the west of the star Phi Aquarii. A finder chart showing the location of the planet throughout 2007 is given on page 80 of the 2007 edition of the BAA Handbook.
 
A small telescope with a medium magnification should show the small disk (approximately 4 arc seconds across).
 
The atmosphere of the planet is generally featureless. However it may be of interest to observe the planet both visually or by digital imaging techniques as very occasionally, some broad features have been recorded by observers with large instruments.
 
The three largest satellites are approximately of 14th magnitude and may be seen visually with telescopes larger than ~ 30 cm or recorded using digital imaging techniques.
 
Currently the planet's equator and the orbits of these satellites are approximately edge on to the Earth.  In fact the Earth passed through the equatorial plane of the planet on 2 May 2007 and on 16 August 2007 and will again on 20 February 2008. Consequently if the three satellites are detected they will appear in a line with the planet.
 
Observations of the planet can be submitted into the Saturn section as Uranus was incorporated into this BAA section in 2005.

Mike Foulkes