Telescope Reviews: OOoohhh it's cold out tonight!!

Having gotten that out of the way, here goes. I got Nessie, my N8 out tonight. I'd been playing around with my SP130, but it just wasn't enough aperture. Anyhow, tonight was short, but phenomenal! I would say it was at least a Mag 4 night if not better. I used the N8 in two ways tonight. Since I just put a 9X50 Orion spotter on it, I started out like it was an N8i. Don't get me wrong, I find the GOTO function very convenient. But it seems such a waste when the object your looking for is visible to the naked eye. So, initially I used it in the traditional way.(Gotta watch that cord wrap though...) Saturn(I know, that's not a DSO) was very easy to acquire. In fact I tweaked the spotter collimation using Saturn. The cheap fine focuser I made out of a pill bottle lid worked like a charm by the way. Then on to M42/43. Wow, to me the "wings" loook kinda like a bow wave. Now I started to run out of naked eye objects to slew to. Now I started using to GOTO feature. For some reason with the spotter on one end, and the Orion dew shield on the other, it seemed to help the GOTO. In fact when I selected M81, I had forgotten to put the 40mm ep back in. To my surprise I find M81 centered in my 25mm Plossl. Wow! By this time, it was gettin' cold. Like 7 degrees F. Anyhow, I took a good look at M31, and I think M32(is that one of the satellite galaxies?). After I stood there and froze my toes observing M31, the core was very bright, and I could see the outlying structure. Again, Wow! I then tried to see M33, but it may have been too bright with the Moon, and Venus westering as they were. After that I tried to see M1, but again it must have too bright. So I said something I won't quote on this family oriented forum, and selected M41. That is so cool when you have a clear dark sky. Just one question though: Why does it have to be so blamed cold here in Ohio to get a good night. It's cold enough that I only got in about 1 1/2 hours scope time. By the way, Echo, and John, yes I did do my handwarmer trick for the hand controller. Just one thing though, CHILBLAINS HURT!! Anyhow I got out under the stars again, and feel much better for it. Clear Dark Skies everyone!!

WW (To explain paucity of naked eye objects to slew to, when one's toes are turning into popsicles, one's concentration wavers.)

--------------------
Pete
6" Apogee/LXD55 - "The Beast"
Starhopper 6" Dob - "Shiva"
Spaceprobe 130 EQ - "Spacey"
Bushnell Fatboy
The Abomination
Sun Pak Pro 7500 Platinum Edition
10X25 Bushnell Camo Roofies
7X35 Tasco Classic Plastic (good views though)
7X42 Tasco Rare Bird
10X50 Nikon Actions (Type 7)
15X70 Skymasters - "DroolMeisters"
One ratty old IBM 600E LapTop