A couple of highlights ..
Comet Hyakutake - April 1996 Tal-1 4.5" Newtonian. Perched atop the septic tank out back of the Warrumbungles Motel Coonabarabaran. A stunning view of the then newly discovered comet. Found it by accident while sweeping the sky around Spica. What sticks out in my mind was the discussion my observing partner Steve Massey and I had that night about WTF we were observing. The other highlight that night was resolving the outer regions clearly of Ω Cent, a testament to how good the optics were in the TAL and the seeing conditions. Lowpoint of the night, the stench that rose from the tanks from time to time.
Ω Centauri - 1974 James Cook Astronomers Society (now SASI) Green Point Observatory. 41cm Newtonian. The first time I'd seen Ω Cent. through a telescope larger than 4.5" and fully resolved the core, a heart stopping moment.
Transit of Venus - June 8 2004. 10" Meade f.10 Baader solar filter.
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