Hi Dave,
Thanks for the post and the absolutely stunning shots of that incredible landscape.
Great to hear you got a good look at M51 through some aperture.
A few of us who went to Texas in 2007 got a view of it through Larry Mitchell's
36" scope and it is the most stunning object I have ever seen in a telescope.
We hope to return to Texas to have a look at it through Jimi Lowrie's new 48"
Dob.
If you have never read it, highly recommend Wilfred Thesiger's account of
crossing the Empty Quater (
Rub' Al-Khali) on camels in 1945 in his book
Arabian Sands. Originally published in 1959, the book is a classic
and still widely available.
See
http://www.amazon.com/Arabian-Sands-.../dp/0140095144
One of the best books I have read.
Once again, fabulous shots and we look forward to more reports.
Best regards
Gary