Well I left the scope out last night shrouded so as not to be dripping with dew in the morning. Set the alarm to 6:00 AM. Got up with the usual rice krispy joints, chugged a cup of speed and went outside with the eyepiece case. With the birds bitching at me to keep it quiet since they're trying to sleep, I removed the dew soaked sheet, turned on the power, swung the scope around to Luna, popped a couple of Denk 14's into the binos and focused.
BAMMMM!!!!
Calm, dead calm and SHARP. Slid the power switch over to 2X..BAMMM!!
Good lord, the detail was spectacular and the atmosphere was allowing the 6" to go right to the limit. I could have spent the rest of the morning looking at just Plato. The cratlets were obvious despite the low sun angle but that made the ripples on the floor stand out. The jagged, long black shadows casting down from the rim peaks made for a decided 3D effect. The bite mark in the wall was especially compelling as I could look right down into it.
I popped the 10MM plossls in, giving me 300X. Oh my goodness. Moved over to Copernicus. What a treat as was the straight wall. I then used the controls to just scan along the terminator, looking for a landing spot.
Then I thought "wait a minute" and nudged the scope over to Mars. "This is just too cool.", I muttered as the small gibbous orb was giving up a sharp jagged polar cap and clear, crisp surface detailing.
At that point dawn glow was intruding and the lens was dewing up a bit but I noticed Venus had found her way out of the woods so she was my last stop before breakfast. Though small and low in the sky she was sharp, and a dazzling beauty.
This was an unforgettable morning and drove home to me why I like the visual side of it so much, especially for solar system stuff. Yeah I've seen some truly spectacular images but they in no way give me that visceral, emotional jolt and awe of this live visual feed injected directly into my head. It's the best reality show...EVER.
Jeff
BAMMMM!!!!
Calm, dead calm and SHARP. Slid the power switch over to 2X..BAMMM!!
Good lord, the detail was spectacular and the atmosphere was allowing the 6" to go right to the limit. I could have spent the rest of the morning looking at just Plato. The cratlets were obvious despite the low sun angle but that made the ripples on the floor stand out. The jagged, long black shadows casting down from the rim peaks made for a decided 3D effect. The bite mark in the wall was especially compelling as I could look right down into it.
I popped the 10MM plossls in, giving me 300X. Oh my goodness. Moved over to Copernicus. What a treat as was the straight wall. I then used the controls to just scan along the terminator, looking for a landing spot.
Then I thought "wait a minute" and nudged the scope over to Mars. "This is just too cool.", I muttered as the small gibbous orb was giving up a sharp jagged polar cap and clear, crisp surface detailing.
At that point dawn glow was intruding and the lens was dewing up a bit but I noticed Venus had found her way out of the woods so she was my last stop before breakfast. Though small and low in the sky she was sharp, and a dazzling beauty.
This was an unforgettable morning and drove home to me why I like the visual side of it so much, especially for solar system stuff. Yeah I've seen some truly spectacular images but they in no way give me that visceral, emotional jolt and awe of this live visual feed injected directly into my head. It's the best reality show...EVER.
Jeff
"Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things" 8O
