The Moon...

...was almost full last night, and waning if I'm not
mistaken, as I saw it almost full several nights ago,
and as it was waxing I imagine.

I set up my FS-102 with the William Optics diagonal
and aimed it at the Moon using various magnifica-
tions and an Orion variable polariser.

At 41x(20mm Circle-T Erfle), it appeared as a chalk-
white orange, as though it were an aged rind coated
with powdery mildew. The image was THAT qualitative
to have allowed such a description.

At 205x(4mm UO orthoscopic) I scanned the barely
waning terminator and noted its many stark contrasts,
but still two-dimensional, that is, flat-looking in appearance
as compared to that during a much lesser partial phase.

Incidentally, the 4mm UO continues to amaze with its
relatively long eye relief and sharpness, and to the point
whereby I'm now convinced that I got one of the very
best examples of the production runs...

....pity I can't say the same for the 5mm UO.

Now, if only I had had a barlow to take the magnification
up further so as to test this particular FS-102's limit...

Then clouds began to surrealistically drift over its face...

At last, I concluded that an almost full phase isn't quite
given to interesting observations.


The new diagonal performs very well, thus far, and I
no longer have to crane my neck.

I do have in my mind, however, what I had read about
mirrors being more prone to light scattering, so I'll need
to observe with the diagonal further before making a
final determination.

I conducted a star test on Capella(?), with the diagonal
in place, and it looked very good, so I'm encouraged.

Alan