Awesome Night

Yesterday was a good day weather wise, and I packed up the Beast and
made ready to go up to the corner. Was up there by about 5pm, enough
time to unload, set up, realine the scope and rest while watching the
sunset.

First lady showed up with a kid before it was dark enough, they
couldn't wait, but I gave the boy some of the goodies JPL sent me to
hand out ( Another good contact fostered by me ), it was to bad they
left so soon, within 10 mins venus was seeable and in 20mins the Full
moon had cleared the trees with Jupiter above it.

I didn't have loads of people stop, but the ones that did got a good
show! First came the moon, ( 24mm ep with moon filter & light blue
filter stacked on ), then a fast change and next would come Jupiter
and last night was just awesome, NO wind, NO fronts, NO air movement
of any kind, I could not only make out the main two cloud belts, but
also could make out many of the smaller fainted belts too, something I
don't see offen, not from that area. Then from there I'd swing over to
Venus with a stop over at Orion's M42.

The last two groups just before closing time, also got Saturn as it
was still in neck brake country but just past the dob hole. I could
even see some slight shading on Saturn.

Got home and after a bit to eat and a asprin for my pains, I drove to
the otherside of the freeway area and set up in the empty field and
enjoyed another 3 hours of watching Jupiter and Saturn and other
sights.

Tonight if it's as good, I'll pull out my 4.8 neggler and give it a
try on Jupiter too.

I had one guy ( jarhead ) who came over, ask me who PAID me to do
this? I pointed toward the jar with the 2 25cent coins in it and told
him it wasn't the little bit of money I might get, but it was the
enjoyment of giving people a view of the nightly show that goes on
over their head and getting them to maybe look UP now and then. He
took a look at the sights, got into his souped up car and peeled out.
I don't think he'll ever be one to look up very offen. But it didn't
matter, the last ones was a man with his little gal ( about 6 I
think ) and hearing the WOW when she saw the full moon in all it's
glory.

All in All a very good night.



--
Dragons Must Fly when Thread's in the Sky

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