The WOW factor

I have been so engrossed in observing double stars that I have almost forgotten some of the great pleasures of visual astronomy. Over the last couple of nights I got a couple of quick sessions, and didn't even power up the mount, just just pushed the scope around the old fashioned way. The three highlights were:

1. Saturn. WOW! The beauty of the ringed planet floating serenely through space never fails to delight.

2. Crescent moon with the rest of the disc illuminated by earthlight. WOW! The whole disc was visible using a 55mm Plossl (51x) and the sharp edged craters and peaks along the limb were magnificent.

3. M13 for the first time in the C11. WOW! Thousands of pinpricks of light - incredible.

Took me back to my childhood in rural Ireland, under coal black skies, marvelling at the wonders of the heavens. I guess I'm getting mawkish in my old age.

Mike

Good man, Mike. 3 Wows in one night. Good for you. Tell us what magnifications did you use on Saturn and M13? More than 51X I'm sure.

Aubrey.

140x for M13 Aubrey, and for Saturn a zoom eyepiece that gives magnifications ranging from 117x to 350x. it was best at approx. 200x.

Mike

PS I really should have referenced your thread on SS Virginis + M13, in which you and Paul talk about the "WOW factor". I must be getting senile as well as mawkish.

Great magnification that, Mike. Do try 300X plus on M13 next time. We loved it.

Aubrey.