I can't believe I waited this long to finally get my first real telescope.
I've just got back from outside, my neck feels like it's fused, my back seems to have a bend in the wrong direction but my head is full of stars
I'd been using binoculars for years before getting an 8" Bintel Dob a week and a half ago, and tonight was the first clear night with no moon I've had.
I visited a lot of my old favourites but it's like seeing them for the first time. M7, 47 Tuc, the lagoon Nebula, omega centauri, SMC, LMC, tarantula nebula, eta carina, the jewel box, Jupiter and I think I even saw my first distant galaxy, Centaurus A
The sky was still clear but I had to come inside as my eyes were starting to glaze over and it was all getting a bit too much to take in
I'm a reborn astronomer
Regards
Ant