Stellarium is planetarium software that allows you to get a view of the sky past, present, and future. Awesome tool for planning your observation sessions.

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.

Cold and clear, the moon was very bright and nearly full.  The light from the moon pretty much washed out anything deep sky.  Had a look at M43 in Orion and even it was washed out by the moon light.  The nebula was still visible but very faint.

Saturn rose in the east just before 11:00 PM.  Shortly after that it was high enough in the sky that I was able to pick it up in the scope.

Saturn was very bright and easy to find in the eastern sky.  I had trouble focusing on the ringed planet at first, the brightness of the sky and the brightness of the planet made it hard to get a real sharp focus on the rings.  I used a Celestron #12 Yellow filter and was able to get a real good sharp picture of the planet in the eye piece.  The rings of Saturn are facing edge towards earth and with the yellow filter I could pick up the fine detail of the edge of the rings across the middle of the planet.  Four of Saturn’s moons were also easily visible through the eyepiece.

I tried out my new Orion Highlight 3x Barlow with my Celestron 25mm Plossl eyepiece.  Really brought the view in close.  Was not able to get as sharp of focus as without the Barlow, but I am getting better, more practice I won’t be so heavy handed on the focus knob.

I tried to take some prime focus pictures with the D60, but I was not able to get a good sharp focus and/or get the exposure right for the brightness of the planet.  I wish I had set my laptop and NexImage Camera up, I probably could have gotten some really good shots, next time.

I spent about an hour looking at Saturn and called it a night just after midnight.