Managed to get some first lights as it appears to be called!

Friend popped down to collect the 130EQ he is taking off my hands. We had a little star party in North Essex. The skies were not overly kind, so left the HEQ5 to its own crazy non aligned weirdness and concentrated on the newtonians. Saturn was found in both to great effect and we did a few doubles before the moon demanded attention. This was cloud obscured, but some great views and a very pleasant (albeit short) evening.

Another day later in the week, I took the 80ED along to the NEAS observatory and put it on the NEQ6 on the outside pier. A proper first outing, as the skies were wonderfully clear in comparison. Saw the ring nebula for the first time, and took in the glorious colours of Albireo and the double at the head of Delphinus. A couple of globulars and then went home to spend another hour or so looking intently at the moon with the Dob. Am seriously enjoying our big satellite. Managed to see some craters down to 7km across with the 8mm end of the Hyperion zoom. Some amazing mountain ranges. Lots more to see!