Finally

by Darrell Lahman

The sky was clear last night here in Vallejo until 3am and I finally got a view of Comet Machholz. Being afraid that if I went out somewhere a bit darker I set up in my driveway and was treated to some fair viewing.

I really do not like setting up there because I have a street lamp right across the street and anything to the south is gone from the get-go. Because of the lights I could not make out more then a smudge for a tail but at least I got to see it with the bino's.

So I turned to the LX200 and just did some simple things. It was good to see old friends like, Orions Nebula, M1, M44, M46, and M47. So I turned my focus to Saturn. She was pretty stable so I tossed on the LPI camera (don't laugh), and got some halfway decent pic stacks. They are not in say RC's league, but hey for in my driveway with a street lamp about 30 feet away, not bad at all.

Parked the scope and went in to warm up, came back out about 2 for Jupiter. The higher it went the more stable it became and I started to get some decent stacks on it and then the gods said no more and the clouds rolled in from the southland about 3.

I feel like a junkie that FINALLY got his fix, even if it was a short shot. I would post those pics but not sure how, but you can email me at drlahman@comcast.net if you wish and I'll send them. Like I said, they may not be much, but they are my 1st with LPI and I don't think they are that bad. Normally when I try to get pics I use my Fuji S 5000 digital or go back to old school and my Pentax K-1000.

Here's to clear skies ahead...

Posted on sf-bay-tac Jan 10, 2005 10:55:56 PT
Converted by report.pm 1.2 Feb 22, 2005 23:01:57 PT