I'm like you in the fact that I prefer viewing on the weekends since I do not have to wake up early the next day. Saturn is indeed very beautiful and I was completely taken aback when I first saw it.

I do not prefer viewing the moon when it is full since the glare of the reflected light seems to "wash away" the details. I prefer the waning and waxing stages myself. Keep the passion alive and don't forget to share.

Isabelle

Keep your fingers crossed for clear skies on the 3rd May (I think), new moon! I love looking at the moon through a variety lens/filter combos but I also like having the regular new moon so I can observe more of the sky.

I too saw Saturn through my new 'scope just last week. Makes it all worth while. One day I'll even set my EQ mount up properly and try tracking it better. I viewed through a 6mm and you get about 6 seconds before it's out of FOV. :)

@ idlelimey.saturn is a fav of mine esp with dif color filters ,i use for staurn and have had some great results ,violet No47#,

light green No56#,and the on that gives the best view is yellowgreen No11#,blue No80a#

@todd8137

Great tip! It's always good to hear which filters people are trying out. I have a #80A and #56 in my filter pack so I'll give them a go. No #11 but I have #12 which I use more often for Saturn. Would there be much of a difference?

No chance of clear skies here (Colchester, UK) tonight though :(

give them a try a spent about a week test in all 12 filters a have and the fore mentioned work for m all tests were on the 12" dob

ps the street light that gives ya hasslw get somw long nose pliers and turn the triangle shaped nut,the cove will come of ,there a on of switch ,turn it of for 15 mins,turn back on,replace cover .the light will take 3 hours to light back up plenty of view in time repaet the above i do it all the time usally after 12 at night

Thats not a bad idea with the streetlight! i may try it, and while im at it i think i'll sabotage every halogen security light in my neighborhood too.

What exactly are filters used for? Do they just alter the colour of the images you see? Or is there more to it than that?

whysosirus,hi use filters for planets mainlyi have a couple a others for neb ectbut color ones are great a have 12 multi colored ones last night i used green blue light yellow on the moon they bring out diferent features and let you have another view of the target i have some pics of the moon a did the other day a will post them later and you will see how they look cheers pat

@todd8137 - Love the guerrilla tactics on the street lights!