(SNES) I was thinking.............

[Timetrav2@webtv.net (Andy and Barry)]

about those summer nights that I missed observing this past summer
because of my early morning water testing duties, so I thought I would
make up for at least one this evening. Man what a great night to get
outside. It was just like a late June evening in my light polluted
parking lot.

At 8:00 pm I set up the XT-8 for a brief session to look a the planets
and try to hunt down M-1 ( no success tonight looking for the "crab") 

Both Jupiter and Saturn were spectacular. I started looking at them as
soon as I set out the telescope and I was treated to some "rock" steady
atmosphere right off the bat without any cool down time. 

Jupiter's surface showed several bands (4) and the rings of Saturn were
projecting what seemed to be a shadow on the surface of the planet. Not
once did the rings look as though they were the wings of a bat flapping
in space.

The Orion Nebula was also spectacular. The four stars of the Trapezium
at 133X were beautifully separated and the entire nebula had wonderful
contrast. Lots of dark (black) regions highlighted by the nebula's
bright white gassy cloud.  Surely it was the most beautiful I have seen
it from my NK viewing location.  I also spent some time exploring the
Pleiades Star Cluster using low power eye pieces, I totally enjoyed the
time there. I even found a small orange/red star in the group that
seemed totally out of place with all all the white points of light that
make up the Seven Sisters.

Like I said, M-1 was a "no show" for me. Maybe it is to bright here for
me to find it. Anyway. I hope some of you had  a chance to get outside
tonight, the seeing seemed to be very very good and the weather was the
best you can expect in June.

Stars in your eyes,
Barry

http://community.webtv.net/Timetrav2/TIMETRAVELERS
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