A search for distant satellites of Neptune

The recent discovery of two distant satellites of Uranus suggests that ther e could be similar bodies orbiting Neptune. Previous surveys for distant sa tellites of Neptune have had relatively bright magnitude limits (B-J simila r or equal to 20.5) and would have missed satellites with magnitudes and co lours similar to the two recently discovered Uranian satellites (R similar to 20.4 and R similar to 21.9). We have searched for satellites of Neptune to a limiting magnitude of R similar to 21 in a 0.1 square degrees region c entred on the planet. This search is up to similar to 2 magnitudes deeper t han the previous wide field search for distant satellites by the UK Schmidt Telescope. Nereid was easily recovered by the search and no large variatio ns of its magnitude were detected.