Clear skies woohoo!

Clear skies again tonight!
Why oh why did we not get a few weeks of this at Christmas
like I asked Santa for!?

Well, I've all my cameras locked away in the house so its
just my etx, my binos & my peepers....

I suppose you've taken to the hills Dave!..


I tell ye lads...
You just can't beat a good visual only observing session
to stoke the embers....
Put down them 'auld cameras and turn off those laptops....
take a break and get back to basics......you'll thank yourself in the morning!

nothin but clouds here :roll:

Just been outside with the new scope for the past 2 hours. Clear skies here. In fact since I got the scope back last week I have had good weather. That's not supposed to happen from what I'm told.

Nope, working late today and too tired to do much after it, maybe the weekend!

Wow.
Great night tonight...
Along with the old faveouites (Saturn & Venus) I saw a few new targets
among these tonight:


The spindle elipictal galaxy in sextants - at mag 9.1 I could just
pick it up with averted vision. Seemed to be tiny and oddly circular in shape.

The double cluster in Perseus - A wonderful pair in 36mm eyepiece.

M38 in Auriga - At mag 6.4 I could only just about make out this cluster.
Nearby M37 on the other hand was a nice comparison at Mag 5.5.

NGC3337 the elipictal galaxy in leo - at Mag 10.1 I was surprised that
I could make it out at all through my 5'' ETX.

Last but not least, The Whirlpool Galaxy - I could easily see the companion and very faint hints of spirals.

I have to say I have never seen so many satalites ever!
I realise its the right time of year to see them but boy its busy up there!

Great night? I've never seen it as clear! Around 4am, I couldn't get over how clear Jupiter was, and so low down too. For the first time in months, I could make out stars all the way to the horizon easily. Wow...