We hosted guests this evening at The ad Astra Observatory at Hilltop, Woodinville, Wa. B_, R_ & M_ stopped by for a really pretty and clear, but brr cold night at mid-winter. Very little moisture left in the air after a clear, cool day. We started with just pointing out constellations; Orion and Taurus and The Family and the Dippers and Polaris.
The Moon and Mars and Venus are putting on a show. Mars and Venus have been hanging out for a month or more now, the Moon whisking by for a day or two each month, gotta go, schedule to meet, here. Last night, they made a small triangle, tonight a nearly straight line. Aw, yeah, nice.
The Moon with any magnification is pretty amazing. I look at the Moon through Kelly a lot. In the Naglers, it was 😮
The shutter is having a problem. yeah, alright. unbolt the motors and throw the stupid thing open. Grumble.
Oh, Orion. M42, The Great Orion Nebula, in the Sword of Orion.
Visible to the naked eye, wonderful at any magnification, in Cassie, she was brilliant. Resolved the Trapezium, dark dust lanes over mottled nebulosity. Hints of so much more texture.
M1 was quite apparent once you knew what you were looking at.
M51 was quite difficult unless you dithered the scope.
The Moon in Cassie was everything you could ask for. Sharp crater edges, so much detail, you want to wear shades.
Kerthump, thump, stupid shutter. Works pretty good, though. I might go manual on the shutter for awhile.
It’s nice to have friends over for stargazing. Y’all come back now, y’hear?
Star <3