Love at first light

by Jamie Dillon


Last night there was space between the clouds so I sure enough got out Felix to check out the new 16mm Koenig from University Optics. Nice eyepiece!

Cor Caroli gave out a pretty color thru the 16. Mind you, it wasn't much of a night. M3 flat wasn't there, even to a binoc scan. I had to squint to keep Cor Caroli naked eye in the Telrad. I've finally gotten the idea that Palo Alto has better skies than Salinas, after Jay and Andy have been looking at Messier objects this week.

Got onto the Moon, and here is where I could see what sort of eyepiece I had. In moments of good seeing I stood and studied Sinus Iridum, a favorite, and the two ridges across the back of the bay stood out clearly. All the little craters that Rukl shows on that page were there in detail. More, the Jura Mtns across the back of the bay were sparkling bright in their sunrise. Just lovely. And the two capes, Laplace and Heraclides, were striking.

Crisp images, sharp contrast. I owe one to Mr al-Mansour.

Simple minds, simple pleasures,

JD