I decided to get The Big One out (8SE, NEQ6) as this may be the best and darkest skies I get before the Autumn.

Took the scope out and began setting up about 10pm, didn't wait long for cool-down as it was so (relatively) warm outside anyway, there was no dew so I just used the dewshield - no heaters! Only the second time I have not had heaters on and got away with it.

I primarily went out to see Saturn and managed to get some great views of the magnificent giant, among the best I've ever had. I convinced myself that I could make out the Cassini Division this time, a black line just visible around the edge of the rings, most noticeable across the disc of Saturn itself. I have not seen this before due to poor seeing conditions when ever Saturn was up. I could also see a band across Saturn.

I fancy I could make out three or four of Saturn's moons too, if the bright one I saw is actually a moon and not a star.

After being awed by Saturn for a while I had a quick look at Mars, it appeared to be in a slight phase, not a complete disc.

I also viewed what I think was Arcturus and Vega, with short trips back to Saturn as it made it's way across the night sky.

By this time my eyes were getting a bit bleary and I found myself sitting in the chair 'resting my eyes' for a few minutes! Been a hot day at the office..

I decided to try and end the night on a high so consulted Turn Left at Orion to see if there was something interesting that took my fancy... M13 looked like it could be an easy target, and it was. I located the Keystone as described in the book, sure enough by the top right star was a fuzzy patch in my binoculars, soon found this in my eyepiece with the help of the red dot finder and regular finder. A fairly impressive globular cluster!

One last look at Saturn and then it was time to call it a night.