Tonight was just a quick look.  The weather was calling for a mostly clear sky and I just wanted to take advantage of it, even if it was only for a quick look.

Because of this I decided to setup my NexStar 60 SLT Refractor.  I have not used this scope since I got the C8.  Unlike the C8 the 60 SLT takes about 5 minutes to setup and align, the views are no where near as spectacular, but if you are just trying to take in a quick view, it’s perfect.

I setup the scope and powered it up, selected the two star manual align on the GOTO controller and after setting the location, time, and date selected Betelgeuse for the first alignment star and then Rigel for the second, after I was finished aligning these stars in the eye piece “Alignment Success” flashed on the screen of the hand controller.

I selected M31 on the GOTO controller and the scope moved into position nearly dead on the Andromeda Galaxy.  Through the 15mm lens I could pick up a fair amount of detail.  The bulge of stars in the center fading outward to the left and right of my field of view.

After studying M31 for about 20 minutes, I entered M33 hoping to get a glimpse of a second galaxy. The scope changed position but I was not able to find the Triangulum galaxy in the eyepiece.  After about 5 minute or so of searching I gave up on this one till next time.

Venus is high in the Southwest sky so I entered Planet and selected Venus on the GOTO controller.  The scope slewed around to the planet, it was a little high in the eyepiece, but still not bad.  Venus looks like a half moon and is very bright.  I was able to get a pretty decent view of the planet through the 20mm eyepiece.

I ended my time with M43, this is one of my favorites.  Partly because it is so easy to find and partly because it can be viewed with even a low power scope.  Even with a small scope you can see this nebula and enjoy it’s beauty.

Just before 8:00 PM some high thin clouds started to move in and the moon began to rise in the East.  By 8:30 the light of the moon reflecting off the high clouds was washing out all but the brightest of stars.