last night 20th August 2007

Last evening was one of the clearest evenings I can remember. (Perhaps because I only have a 3 month memory :twisted:
From the back yard, the milky way way plainly visible. All the stars of Ursa minor could easily be seen. I took out my 8" Meade LX10 and for the first time using nothing more than a Telrad (never used the 9x50 finder)managed to find M51 (clearly visible), the owl nebula (a hint of the eyes visible) and the ring nebula (hint of blue visible). The dumbell nebula was spectacular and my first time seeing it. Even without O111 filters the fans and rays of the nebula were clearly visible. M13 was as always spectacular against a dark background.
I hope you all had a night as good as I had. First of many I hope.

Well I sure did John
I had a day off work today so I pretty much stayed up all night!

I was working late in my den and I looked out the window and saw
Mars rising over the trees.
Shur that was it then.
I have all my gear in here and I was actually able to set up and start to image Mars through
(the open!) window in no time.

Later on I went out an set up.
I basically used the 'tonights best' on the autostar and I have to say,
It was one of the best observing sessions I've had since getting the scope.

The only thing though,,
I was like a loon,
The clouds just kept rolling over Mars!!
Nowhere else in the sky!!!!!

While it was a pretty cloudless evening/early night down here, it was somewhat murky somehow. It just wasn't as clear as it could have been. I have a favourite spot I like to go to, but with wedding stationary taking over this week, I was too tired come midnight to do anything but sleep!

Seanie.

but with wedding stationary taking over this week,

And so it begins!......

Hang in there dude,
Only the rest of your life to go!

Hang in there dude,
Only the rest of your life to go!

Only 5 days of it left, you mean! :lol:

Looks like I missed a good night, oh wait, I was on a beach in Spain at the time, what can I say. :lol: