Back into it...

[Davesellars]

Uff... it's been so long since my last proper session (almost a year).  My 3 year old daughter is finally sleeping through the night so I can get back my time!   It was incredibly clear however brutally cold so setup my 120ST for a "quick" session at 11:30ish - I finished at just before 2am my feet had turned into blocks of ice...  Most observations made with the 17.3 Delos.

Started out with Leo - a little low down at the start but M65 and M66 easily visible - Couldn't get NGC3628 though it may just have been a little too low down for this...  Across then to the M105 group then  M95 and M96 - so far so good - no major failures

M51 again a little low down a bit disappointing although with the 10mm Delos was able to resolve both parts and a smidge of the spiral.  M101 was literally ghost like just a whiff flickering into the occasional view.  Much better position was M108 and M97 both really clearly visible - M108 although not showing any real definition of detail although M97 I could see easily enough a dark area in the centre without any filter.

M44 (Beehive) cluster was lovely with the 17.3mm Delos framing the entire cluster very well.  Down to M67 which surprised me - quite delicate but bright cluster.  To end the session I finished with the M3 globular cluster usng the 5mm Pentax XW - Determined it was too low down and needed more aperture to resolve this one properly.  Looking forward now to galaxy season coming up with Coma Berenices and Virgo!

Great to get back out again and observing!!!  Really enjoyed it.  Next night will get the 12" dob out to play...

[Jiggy 67]

Great report, always good to get back out after a long time away. The Beehive is beautiful, by far the best Open cluster IMO

[John]

Very nice report !

It was a lovely clear, if cold, night here as well.

Once you have had a break from observing it is very nice to get back into it and re-visit "old friends"

[Mark at Beaufort]

Nice report Dave. Not been able to use my 12" Dob for a while (terrible cloudy weather) so I live and hope that we might get a clear spell to start some observing again.