Telescopes and Great Pyrenees

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

Walt,

Thanks for the nice report, including a chuckle. I hope you don't have to
choose between returning to the Edmunds 6" and getting a chihuahua.
Personally, I'd keep the Great Pyrenees.

Enjoy your Big Sky.

Mike Simmons

Mike Simmons wrote:
Walt,

Thanks for the nice report, including a chuckle. I hope you don't have to
choose between returning to the Edmunds 6" and getting a chihuahua.
Personally, I'd keep the Great Pyrenees.

Enjoy your Big Sky.

Mike Simmons

Mountains upside down? Try rotating your eyepiece ;-}

Greg

"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/