Mr George

So, with clear skies I headed out into the countryside and boy am I glad I did. Started with Jupiter but couldn't make out that much detail tonight. Not sure if the seeing was particularly bad but I could make out the NEB and not much else. So I switched to plan B and got out my 15x70 binos (bless you FLO). Amazing. Started with the double cluster in Perseus which was stunning. I was literally picking out Messier objects all over the shop. And having checked I can confirm I did see Comet Hartley. Just a big, fuzzy blob but it is my first comet in years so I'm happy. I was going to stay out to see M42 but got interrupted by what I think was an army jeep, so I packed up and came home.

Yes, I'll put a photo up when I can - but it literally is just a camping mat glued together into a cylinder. Just made a small one for the finderscope too.

Jupiter + the shadow of Io + GRS = happy days!

Jupiter + the shadow of Io + GRS = happy days!

Yeah, true. The last time I got hit by a chunk of astro rock it hurt like hell for weeks.

On the plus side, the dew shield I made out of a camping mat worked a treat. The scope remained dew free and gave me some rather nice views of Jupiter. On the minus side, my finderscope and eyepieces dewed up and ruined it all in the end! Ho hum.

Another good night. Checked out the usual suspects and added M15 to the bag. Very bright core on that thing. I then moved on to Jupiter which was amazing yet again. Saw Io's shadow crossing the planet which was a first. Then everything fogged up. I'm so going to have to make a dew cap. Still, this Skywatcher 127 scope is well worth the money, best present I bought myself for a while. Yay.

Tonight I saw: Jupiter, The moon, Uranus (for the first time!), M81 and M82.