Helping Friendly
So I finally got to use my telescope last night :) It weighs two tons but it's worth it once you finally carry it outside. Unfortunately, I couldn't convince an observing partner to adventure with me yesterday so i was limited to my backyard for observations.
Unfortunately I have a neighbor who is for whatever reason terrified that someone will sneak up to his house. To this end he has placed a massive motion sensor spotlight at the edge of his fence line. This wouldn't be too bad if it weren't for his tiny dog which everytime the light goes off simply has to run and hop infront of it ensuring that not only is the light blinding but that it occasionally blinks!
It took me a long time to align the mirrors and adjust the spotter in the dark, but once I finally had it all set it was time for a tuning shot. Unfortunately, last night was a moonless night. The moon is rising really late these days so i had to find something else to aim for. Knowing only one other object that would be easily visible I took aim at the sword of Orion. Suddenly, and to my utter shock, the eather spray of the Orion Nebula came into view! It was a little washed out by the lights of the city, but one could still easily tell what it was. I jumped for joy a little.
So I repositioned and began searching for Gemeni. Finally finding it I dropped down to just above the tree line. As I slid along the horizon I found the object I was searching for and the rings of Saturn danced into my view. It was just as lovely as I recalled and made me wish for a moment that it was July so I could turn to Jupiter next. I would have turned next to Andromeda but the sky was simply too bright to spot something so remote. Let us close with Batty's qupte, "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe..."
Unfortunately I have a neighbor who is for whatever reason terrified that someone will sneak up to his house. To this end he has placed a massive motion sensor spotlight at the edge of his fence line. This wouldn't be too bad if it weren't for his tiny dog which everytime the light goes off simply has to run and hop infront of it ensuring that not only is the light blinding but that it occasionally blinks!
It took me a long time to align the mirrors and adjust the spotter in the dark, but once I finally had it all set it was time for a tuning shot. Unfortunately, last night was a moonless night. The moon is rising really late these days so i had to find something else to aim for. Knowing only one other object that would be easily visible I took aim at the sword of Orion. Suddenly, and to my utter shock, the eather spray of the Orion Nebula came into view! It was a little washed out by the lights of the city, but one could still easily tell what it was. I jumped for joy a little.
So I repositioned and began searching for Gemeni. Finally finding it I dropped down to just above the tree line. As I slid along the horizon I found the object I was searching for and the rings of Saturn danced into my view. It was just as lovely as I recalled and made me wish for a moment that it was July so I could turn to Jupiter next. I would have turned next to Andromeda but the sky was simply too bright to spot something so remote. Let us close with Batty's qupte, "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe..."