After hosting relatives for 10 days for the Thanksgiving holiday, this weekend was my weekend to veg out. I had all intention of maybe driving out to Del Valle but it just wasn't going to happen - kind of got burnt out on driving any distance whatsoever after last week and this week when I had to get motivated to contend with commuter traffic to go back to work.
So, all that said, my observing was done from my homestead.
Transparency was decent - (Well at least for SF considering all the lights but no fog, very little marine layer up until about 9 'ish.) Seeing however, was a bit turbulent...Saturn was kind of jumping around up there...I had gotten a better sight on it last Saturday night when my cousin was interested in looking through the telescope. But for some reason, Jupiter looked quite nice with 4 of its numerous satellites. Saw the bands very well and two young men literally slammed the brakes of the pick up they were riding around in in the middle of my street to come take a look...neither of them had ever looked through a telescope before and they were quite impressed. So if for nothing else, hopefully there are two potential budding amateur astronomers out there cruising around in a Dodge 4x4 PU. But I digress...
I spent a lot of time on Jupiter, Saturn and the moon. The terminator was great...lots of detail of the craters, ridges and shadows. Tried my hand at sketching it. That needs work for sure and it's something I will try and do every observing session from now on. It's kind of groovy to look back at what was observed previously.
After about an hour and 1/2, I got the gumption to take the scope back inside and measure the ring plate for an extension to move the OTA rings more towards each end of it. Did some measurements and got on the internet to find an aircraft supply outfit that sold aluminum plates - totally scored on that item. Housemate said he'd drill the holes for me.
At about quarter to nine, mighty Orion was coming up - now due to the light situation, I had a hard time seeing the nebula naked eye so I brought out the binoculars. Nailed it and then decided to bring out the scope again. The nebula looked wonderful but again, with the turbulent atmosphere, I could only pull out the Trapezium. So it was back to the binoculars for the rest of the evening. The Pleiades, Cassiopeia, Orion's Nebula, the last of the moon as the marine layer was coming in, Jupiter and Saturn (again) the Hyades, Gemini's feet and Sirius.
Not a long session, but enough to get me though 'til tomorrow night and the next two weekends until my Christmas vacation during the last two weeks of December. Then I'll be ready to hang out as long as I want - might even make it down to Coe!!
Hope everyone had steady and transparent skies at whereever you ended up tonight!