Saturn. The first time I found it for myself in my own brand new first ever scope, I damn near burst into tears (but didn't, because I'm not a wuss
). So Saturn is very special to me.
The story goes that I set up my scope in my usual viewing spot on or around the night of Saturn's most recent opposition. I get a good West and north West view, everything else is hopeless because I live on the side of a hill (more like the bottom of a cliff). I knew Saturn was going to be close, and the sky was crisp, clear and wonderful. I fettled around a bit looking at the other things. I pulled out my phone to work out where Saturn was going to rise... disaster! My stupid house is in the way! I don't have a backyard per se, because of the aforementioned cliff, but I do have a side yard... full of wet clay mud (as only Adelaide has) because the house is new and the landscaping hasn't been done yet.
Moving to the side of the house would help, but I'd still have to wait for Saturn to rise above the tree line... at the top of the cliff...
It gets worse, because I have to try and get as far back from the cliff so I'll be able to catch Saturn as early as possible (because I had work the next day). that's fine, except for the fact that doing so puts my scope, and me, on the edge of an 8 foot drop... in slippery, awful clay mud.
So there I am, with my back to an 8 foot drop, trying to find Saturn as it (finally) gets over the tree line...
Totally worth it.
I have to admit that I've not had much chance to do any proper viewing in the last 3 months or so, but if something tops Saturn for emotional impact, I'll report back (I suspect when I get to check out my first ever galaxy under dark sky might do it).
A close second would probably be the full moon from about a month and a half back.
I was actually quite annoyed, because that night was the first night in quite a while that I'd had the means, motive and opportunity to go put the 10in light bucket to use, and the sky was full of Luna. So I initially cursed it for washing out all the things I WANTED to look at, and spent much of the night vainly trying to find other objects, with my back adamantly at the wretched satellite, and muttering eldritch curses under my breath.
eventually I gave up, and was about to pack up. But before I did, I thought I'd finally give a look to the wretched thing that ruined my deep sky ambitions. So I looked... and looked... and looked... and then when my eyeball started to dry out, I stepped back from the scope, and realised that the whole back yard was bathed in a brilliant silver moonglow. Loved Luna ever since.
I also just noticed that my favorites both came about when I started out having a bad time, which was turned into a good time.
Guess the valleys in life make the peaks extra high.
