The "Hunter," and the "Pup"...

I observed several objects this late evening/
early morn with my Takahashi FS-102:

Mars was utterly hopeless, swimming about
in its descent towards the west. Would that I
never saw it again. I am so wanting to observe
Saturn and Jupiter with my refractor.

The Trapezium in Orion...such teeny stars,
sharp as tacks, and with the nebula neatly
resolved (isn't the Horsehead there about?)
My 20mm Circle-T Erfle was used in this
instance, and reaffirmed its special place in
my collection.

I also noticed Rigel for the first time, and that
it's a binary with its much fainter companion
being rather prominent in its own right, and
with a generous degree of separation between
the two.

The Pleiades...yet again, and I am still
unable to discern its nebulosity. I guess the
skies just aren't dark enough. Also, I found
that even a 40mm ocular, in conjunction with
an 4" f/8 primary, is still too high a magnification
for at least that particular "DSO." I really need
to start looking into some long focal length 2"
oculars.

Sirius...in vain I strained to spot its
companion, the "Pup," and at 205x. Sirius was
a bright, blazing hot ball o' fire, and rapidly yet
subtly displaying the spectrum as it slowly rose
out of the turbulence.

Also, I finally attached the JMI RA motor to
my Vixen GP-DX. It then performed admirably,
even at 205x(4mm orthoscopic.) What a VAST
improvement over the slow-motion controls!

All in all, it was most enjoyable session.

Now, if only Parks will send me my 8" f/5
Newtonian...

Alan