To All:

Just posted a bunch of new photos in the 2009 WSP album.

Sunday night was a bust, sort of, clouded up about 12:30 AM and I packed it. I did get the 25" Obsession next to me to observe Hickson 44 and IC 418! The "Raspberry Nebula" was truly colorful! I then replicated the observation in the 12.5" NGT and still got color!
Bunch of high school kids were touring and I showed them M42 and the Rosette in the SV90BTV as well as Comet Lulin and the Winter Albeiro, amongst other "showpieces".

Last night was a hummer! I finally got my hands on the Explore Scientific 152mm f/4.8 David H Levy "Comet Hunter". Russ Tanton and Scott Roberts brought two along to the WSP and are allowing me the use of one for the ENTIRE EVENT!~

Since I last observed with it last Fall 2008 at SkiesUnlimited and the final 2008 CAS Marsh Creek Star Party, they added a beautiful new carbon fiber Dew Shield and they have revamped the coating on the OTA, a beautiful transparent lacquer-like coating over the carbon fiber tube.

First light was Venus with the 13mm Ethos (56x)! Amazingly crisp crescent! Next as the Pleiades with a Baader-Planaterium Hyperion-Aspheric 72° Modular Eyepiece. Doug G's wife looked and uttered" Oh My God!" Next was the Double Cluster, M42, and then the Comet's Kushida, Schwassmann-Wachmann and Lulin.

Scott Roberts and Russ Tanton were alongside and were both so pleased, Scott tried calling David Levy on his cellphone to tell him about our observing excitement. Unfortunately, no answer, but I hope to tell David Levy myself what a hummer of a 'scope he has designed for Explore Scientific!

Clear Dark (and WARM) Skies!

Gastronaut

P.S. Tonight it's dry, clear and awesome and I am heading out to observe!