Hi Dys,
Great post!
Brings back memories.
And, be warned, your views of Orion Nebula (and all others) will be 100% better when the moon is not out there to wash the skies out.
Still no colour, but much better contrast and definition.
As to viewing the moon itself, best viewed when a crescent (ie less than half showing), and most definition will be visible along the terminator (the line where it goes fro lit to unlit) as the shadows are longest there.
Keep the excitement, and
Happy stargazing!
