Hi all - just happened to take a look outside and saw stars, so figured
I'd mount up the 8" SCT and try out my new 9x50 finder and LP filter
(both purchased from Orion this afternoon). So, whomever it was that
suggested FP tonight - prophetic! The western sky is a bit cloudy, to
about 15-20º but nothing to cause problems. The rest of the sky was
B-U-tiffle!
I didn't spend long, maybe an hour just getting the finder dialed in
and checking out M42 with and without the filter. M42 was outstanding
(of course) and easily made out Trapezium - the nebulosity was
excellent with the filter in and I could follow the fading edges much
further than without. I did notice that it was easier to make out 4 in
Trapezium w/o the filter - is that normal?
Quick hop to Saturn @ 200x - good stuff, could make out the Cassini
division though seeing was a tad soft, but just a tad. Picked out Dione
and Rhea too - pretty cool.
Last jumps to Polaris and Eta Cas for the splits then back inside. It
is cold out, and not smart to be standing around outside in shorts!
Bottom line? Should have done FP and I'm kicking myself in the butt
right about now! NOAA say "mostly clear" for tomorrow night - anyone
care to join me?
Ray D.