That was a good read Adam.
If you do fall off the cliff, make sure the dob doesn't fall on top of you.
My reaction to Saturn was that might heart raced and I got the shakes,
I couldn't believe it. Wonderful not having any expections- I only expected to see a pin point of light as my old Tasco had shown me. I wasn't prepared at all for what greeted me. I'm sure most people have the same experience.
My favourite object would have to be The Wishing Well Cluster NGC 3532 in Carina. It's impressive how it fills up the entire fov and really does look like pennies at the bottom of a wishing well.
I'm going to throw another one in
and say M57 (The Ring) planetary nebula. It's just ridiculous how much shape this pn has got - looks like someone has blown a smoke ring out of their mouth from a cigarette.
Fabulous thread by the way.
I'm sure many of us will learn from it.
