So, FedEx delivered my brand spanking new Orion XT12 yesterday evening.

Today I spent most of the day putting it together.

Yup, it's together.

It's currently in our living room, and the only thing I've looked at
through it are the Bridger Mountains through our living room window,
but things looked okay, even if the Bridgers were upside-down (yeah, I
know).

Funny thing is, our Great Pyr (who is about the size of a cow) is
scared to death of it. We let him in the house tonight, he sauntered
into the living room to lay down in his usual spot, saw the XT12, and
started growling and barking.

Kind of funny actually, but I'm wondering what might happen when I put
it in the back yard to look at stuff. I hope he doesn't eat it.

OKAY, this is all tongue-in-cheek. But, I'm really happy with the
'scope, next step is to collimate it, then I'll drag it outside and
look at stuff.

After spending the last few decades looking through an Edmund 6" this
is a big step up for me. I'm just getting back into astronomy and I am
really excited.

There's a local astronomy outfit (Southwest Montana Astronomy Club, or
somesuch) and I'm going to hook up with them.

Anyway, I'm getting back into astronomy after a bit of a hiatus. It's
good to be back.

--Walt
Bozeman, Montana