T'was cloudy and in the slow fading light
A small figure scurries at approaching night
With quick furtive glances at grey skies again.
He prepares in the hope it will not be in vain
Setting up tripods, mounting strange gear.
Connecting the power, testing the air.
All in the hope he can capture faint light
And the gods will smile on his efforts tonight.
Beware of the dreaded Cirrus they say
Blanketing the sky and harbinger of haze
And Cumulo Nimbus rising high up above
Carriers of rain and of astronomers unloved
The evening light fades and the clouds have all gone.
With fingers crossed he turns the mount on.
His gear will perform well this evening he hopes
Software and hardware, all guiding his scope
Searching for faint stars to align his big eye
He finds Achernar, Canopus, and Sirius high.
Then selecting his target he slews the scope round
Places eye to the finder to see if it's found.
Beware of the dew that falls from on high
Power your dew straps, keep your Eye Pieces dry
Temperatures stable, let the fans spin
A stressed primary mirror won't hold the light in.
His target is centred within the crosshairs
The camera is cooled, controls are all near.
He tweaks with the focus through the Bahtinov Mask
Diffractions and patterns sharp in the dark.
The ghostly glow of the object he seeks.
Is now steady and sharp after all of his tweaks
His run has begun, there'll be no sleep tonight.
He will watch and adjust till dawns early light.
Beware of the cold that numbs your limbs
The mozzies that bite your uncovered skin
Watch for stray light that affects pictures you take
And step very carefully, don't make the mount shake
His eyes are half closed, the coffee is gone.
His target has travelled the sky till predawn.
The hard drive is full with images stored.
Much to be processed, to add to his hoard.
He powers it down, puts the equipment away.
It is going to be a bleary eyed day
But tonight was such magic, it all came together.
His prayers were answered, he conquered the weather.
Ta Geoff, was just feeling a bit poetic after having a good night out under the stars. Had to put it somewhere to be read.
Might just do that, see if any are interested.
With apologies to Lewis Carroll ...
Perhaps you might send this to an Astronomy Mag or 2 ? Don't know if there is any precedent for such a thing.
