]Just got back in from a superb session. Popped my head outside at about midnight and immediately grabbed the bins - the sky was clear and spent 30 mins scanning around. got a bit confused as what I thought was Alderbaran want where it should be then I realised it was Mars!

The seeing and transparency was improving all the time so set up the scope and while it was cooling checked what was up and where - lots to choose from. Went back out and just gazed in amazement as I could make at the milky way, well worth waiting for ! Had a peek at Mars, then moved onto the Hyades - very good view . By now Orion had cleared the trees so hunted down M42 - found it alot easier this time and the view in the 20mm Meade 5000 was superb. noticed more detail as well - it was more feathery this time. changed to 9mm - now this was amazing - i managed to resolve the E star in the trapezium. Observed that for a good 20 minutes, then spotted what to me looked like a star surrounded by vague nebulosity above M42 . Scanning up and down spotted another small group - i counted 3 stars - below M42 with faint nebulosity, and below that a small open cluster.

Just before packing up had quick look at sirius through the bins - nice flickering effect red , blue and to my eyes green - should be renamed the disco star.

So what started off as quick scan with bins turned into a 3 hr session with very satisfying results!!

forgot to take the star charts out ,so being checking up and seems I saw NGC 1980, 1977 and 1981 all first obs so I'm well chuffed.