[Solanum]

My first 'scope turned up yesterday, a 10" Guan Sheng Dob (thanks to everyone on here who gave advice on that). It has tried my patience somewhat as the bearings and bearing plate were missing, one email to Lee Andrews later and I discover that everything that was said about the instructions were true, it doesn't have bearings anymore, it uses teflon pads instead. Also, unfortunately, the glue used by the manufacturer to stick on the ring in the centre of the primary has dripped almost right across it, hopefully we'll get that sorted...

Still I got it assembled yesterday, spurned the idea of collimating it before having a go and took it out tonight. My first time ever out with a 'scope rather than binoculars. Wow! I'm totally blown away, I found M42 almost straight up, and virtually by accident, was just browsing there. It was amazing to see all that detail in the nebula, not to mention the stars in the middle of it. Then before coming in I spotted Saturn had just made it above the roof of my house. Seeing was poor and there was glow from a streetlight, but I was still awestruck. Resolving the planet and seeing the rings (well, one big ring!), I stuck in the 2x Barlow (not sure I'm using it right though) and a 9 mm eyepiece and I could see the shadow of the rings (or thought I could) and at least three moons!

Sorry about the rambling on, but from going out not sure if I could even focus the thing to seeing all that was incredible.