This is how it works. If I know that there is a certain astronomical event I would like to witness in the wee hours of the morning, I go to sleep with the thought in my head of, "OK, I have to wake up at X time to see X event".
With that thought in my thick cranium, I drift off to sleep. Meanwhile... my subconscious, coupled with my internal biological clock, get together with my bladder. The three of them work fervently to make sure that, within 5 minutes of when I wish to wake up, I will do so thanks to my bladders state of fullness.
And so it was this morning. Last night I had the thought to drive down to the shores of Lake Ontario to try and see the Moon, Mars, and Mercury rising in the east. Four AM was when I wanted to get up. Sure enough, my eyes popped open at 4:02, and off I ran...
Checking outside, I was disappointed. Thin wisps of clouds, very high humidity, and rather chilly at -10C (14F). Hmmm. Well, I am not driving down to the lake for this. I had loaded my mount and scope into the car Friday night in preparation. I went to get them and saw the Moon in the east. It seemed clear enough, kind of... Ah, what the heck. I'm up, kinda hungry, could use a coffee... I went back in, grabbed my camera and some cash, and drove off to the Timmy's up the street. Got a double-double and a bagel with egg and bacon as only they can do it.
I drove off with the steering wheel in one hand and breakfast in the other. Inhaled that delicious mass of protein and artery-hardening goodness, and debated where to go to set up. I thought of my daughters high school. It's not far from us, and it's also at a higher elevation. She's lucky; it's only uphill one way for her. Not like it was for her old man, back when it was uphill both ways... In bare feet and snow, too
There is a large parking lot to the side, and I though of there. Have you ever not noticed how many light there are in a parking lot?? I never did until today. Man, comparing that lot to my backyard is like comparing my backyard to the Atacama desert!
This won't do. I left the lot, drove past the school, and parked at the curb where there was a little park with one light on a pole. Much better, especially since I was going to set up behind a tree.
I unloaded my scope (C80), mount (CG4), set that up and attached my T3. By now it was almost 5:30 AM and not any warmer. I sat in the car for 15 minutes to let the scope acclimatize and finish my coffee. The sky had a kind of whitish haze to it, but I took some pics anyways. I did see Mars at about 6:20 when I was packing it all up. No chance of Mercury; it being too close to the horizon and therefore lost in the trees. With the haze it would have been hard to pick out as well.
After loading everything up and double checking I wasn't leaving anything behind, I went home. Pulled in the driveway as the Sun was starting to light up the sky. I left my telescope and mount in the backyard and took everything else inside. Fed the now-awake and hungry feline, whose meowing for groceries woke up my dearly beloved, followed soon after by the daughter unit. It's fun when Daddy comes home...
At just after 8 AM, I went out to get my scope and saw the lit Moon in the south-east. I took a few pictures through the scope because I could, not because they'd be any good
I did that, put the mount in the shed, the scope downstairs, and have been sitting in front of the computer since. Might be time for a nap.... And here's the results of my internal alarm clock. They're both at ISO 1600 and 1/400th second. First is B&W, and the second is in color for that cheesy
The daytime shot, or at least the best one. Meh.
Of course, there is always tomorrow morning. Should be interesting if it's clear; the Moon will only be 6% illuminated.
Have a great day, all!!
