There was just the shortest of windows between dusk and full moon tonight but as there were miraculously almost no clouds I wheeled out the 8" and had some fun.
First up was Jupiter. I was set up just in time to watch the start of Io's transit. Usually I loose Io in the glare of Jupiter but tonight I slipped in my 2.5 mm TB and low and behold while Jupiter was a little blurry there was a sharp bright spot slowly moving across him. And Jupiter is definitely getting more detail as I was able to count 4 dark bands.
Next over to one of my favourites, M-42. there was too much turbulence to split the Trapezium and too much high thin for detail of any sort but it sure was pretty.
Finally over to Rigel where I was able to get a clean split of A & B at @90x.
By then the ever present clouds were thickening and the moon was lightening the sky so I packed it up.
It was truly enjoyable to be under the stars again.
Brian
It was short, and
that was fun!
