21st November 2008 from Surrey

[TheThing]

Seeing as it was such a clear night, I left SWMBO and a friend chatting and snuck out to do some observing. As I keep the scopes in an unheated outhouse, the Soligor didn't need much cooling down time. A quick polar align and I was off!

My plan was to take in M42, the Orion Nebula, but at 21:45hrs it was just behind next door's tree, so I looked in the Sky and Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas for some other targets. I've never really looked round Orion much, so this was a good chance. Betelgeuse and Bellatrix were above the tree, so I had a look at them first. Betelgeuse was lovely and orange and, I'm sure, much bigger than any other stars I've seen. I spent a while just gazing and wondering about all that has happened since those light photons left and finally hit my eye!

Next was Bellatrix - Lovely and bright and a good target. Racking up the power from 40mm to 15mm with the 2x barlow, I'm pretty sure I made out IC434 as a faint smudge just next to Bellatrix.

Moving on, I popped the 40mm back in and headed for M45. WOW! Like little jewels on the black velvet backcloth of the sky. Simply stunning! A much wider FOV eyepiece is added to the shopping list now.

A quick scout for M1 proved fruitless, but I wasn't expecting much as it is still in the orange haze of London to the east at that time of night.

Finally, M42 cleared the top of the tree. What a visual delight! All four stars of the Trapezium where clearly visible, as was nebulosity. Despite going up to 7.5mm with the Barlow, I couldn't make out the E & F stars.

By now, I had lost all feeling in my feet (should hve put thicker socks on!) so headed back into the warmth, very happy and contented with my evening's viewing.

[Sam]

Sounds like a great session! I went out about 10pm and it was sort of clear - but awesome seeing in the clear patches - I could see M31 visually (with my glasses on though).

Sam

[MikeP]

My first look this year at M42 last night too. Also with binoculars.

Seeing was amazing to the E and SE but rubbish W and N. Quite strange really.

Mike

[Andrew*]

Very nice report.

Sometimes I too enjoy looking at one of the more sparkly stars. Betelgeuse is a lovely sight indeed. I believe one of the first things I saw through a telescope...

Andrew

[Doc]

Sounds like you had a great evening.

Can't beat a night under the stars