My first ever view of an astronomical 'thing' through a telescope was Venus, way back in the mists of time (some time in the late 70s). Prompted by a little section in this month's Sky at Night programme, I went looking for Venus again in the evening sky. I was hoping to spot Mercury, too. I was intrigued by the statement on the programe that only 1% of the population had knowingly seen Mercury.

For the last few nights I've been thwarted by low cloud in the West. My view of the Western horizon is obscured by several trees and a bungalow so the window of opportunity for observing Venus is limited. But last night, from the back bedrom window, there they were. I saw Venus straight away. I set the scope up in the bedroom, looking through double glazing, and managed to observe Venus and the fainter Mercury but inevitably, the image quality was very poor.

I set the scope up in the garden where I could just spot Venus between the branches of the tree. Had there been leaves, I would have had no chance. Mercury had disappeared behind the bungalow.

I was rewarded with a lovely view of the evening star with a hint of a phase. It took me straight back to those days as a kid when I was using my neighbour's telelscope to view it. Even down to the mad rush of the planet through the field of view (as I hadn't enabled the tracking on the scope).

I may have to find a dark sky sight suitable for viewing them both with the telescope this weekend.