"Walt" wrote:

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

Congratulations on your new telescope! The XT12 ought to be big
enough to keep you busy for a L-O-N-G time.

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.

The Edmund 6" is larger than the binoculars and telescopes I've been
using lately. (I have a 10" in hibernation - just in case ;-)

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

I'm somewhat familiar with SMAS; but live quite a distance from any of
Montana's major cities and astronomy clubs. I've attended most of the
annual "StarWatches" that were sponsored by SMAS. The last I heard,
the Great Falls club was supposed to take over that star party. It
wasn't held in 2006. I understand they were looking for a different
site.

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

Welcome back! There's still quite a bit of dark sky in Montana --
once you get away from the cities.

--Walt
Bozeman, Montana

I have a son in Bozeman. He once called and complained about all the
lights! (He grew up in "rural" Montana.) A few months ago he brought
a girl friend 'home' so she could see a *dark* sky -- and meet his
parents. We spent a fair amount of time out in the yard with
"Excalibur."

If one of the major Montana clubs manage to get the StarWatch up and
running again, plan on attending! It makes for a nice mixture of
people, equipment, and dark skies.

Willie R. Meghar
Observational Notes at:
http://meghar.blogspot.com/