My special thanks to Peter from the IAS for organising a most brilliant observing out beyond Naas at the Gliding Club. I was observing from just after 5pm till about 10pm.
I sought out no less than 6 planets in the night sky and the Comet Lovejoy. Something tells me I don't think I shall ever witness a night such as this ever again.
1. My first planet was of course Venus which was 3 degrees east of Mercury. I spotted them both in the same field of view at 11X in the guidescope side by side. Venus was -3.9, Mercury -0.3. I could not make out the phase of either as there was boiling haze. I observed both at 112X.
2. My 3rd planet was Mars. Its magnitude was +1.1. I could make out its brownish disc at 140X -no surface markings of course. It is too small.
3. My 4th planet was neighbouring Neptune. I could make out its blue disc at 167X.
4. I split Sigma Aquarii beside Neptune at 167X. A is 4.8, B is 8.5.
5. Menkar (Alpha Ceti) easy split at 11X
6. Kaffaljidhma (Gamma Ceti) split at 140X. A 3.5, B is 6.2.
7. Alrisha (Alpha Piscium) split at 112X. A is 4.1, B is 5.2.
8. Zeta Piscium split at 11X.
9. And so unto Uranus by star hopping from the 4 previous stars listed above. Lovely green disc at 167X.
10. Back to Cetus the whale. Split double star 66 Ceti at 40X.
11. Mira. It took me a while to find "The Wonderful One" as it is at minimum magnitude. It had a strong red tinge in colour, and I estimated its magnitude at 9.3. Being patient was worth it.
12. After pointing at the Pleiades in the guidescope at 11X, I quickly found Comet Lovejoy, and it was splendid at 112X and 167X. I could not see it with my unaided eye and it had no colour or tail. But it was very impressive all the same.
13.Beside M35 in western Gemini, I was completely surprised to see NGC 2158 to its west. This was my first observation of it with my 6.2" apo. I could see at 40X and 112X.
14. The 4 moons were on the eastern side of Jupiter -very nice sight at 112X.
15. Then someone mentioned I should give M1 a try. To my utter amazement I very quickly found The Crab Nebula north of Zeta Tauri. We were definitely under minimum light polluted skies. The double star STF 742 was to its east. A is 7.1, B is 7.5 split at 112X.
16. Algieba (Gamma Leonis) split at 112X.
This was a most enjoyable evening. I am going to remember the 16th January 2015 for the rest of my days. There were about 10 observers and the chat was excellent. There was a biting cold wind going on all the time and I was freezing even with 5 layers on me.
We have asked Peter to arrange it all again next month weather permitting. Best regards to him.
Thank you for reading.
Aubrey.
  