Tonight I took my Venus, whose Earthly name is Bonnie, down a long dark road into the western sky.
I wanted to show her the first galaxy I observed...The Sombrero Galaxy.
Coming out from under the 100 foot canopy of oak and walnut trees where we live we discovered that the moon was still about 25 degrees above the horizon so I pointed the telescope at Luna before putting on the Sombrero.
We set up the
The moon was but a thumbnail crescent. In the 12.5 Doctor the view was spectacular. The skyglow from the late sunset backlit the full orb and faintly illuminate the dark side. There was a faint streak of cirrus across the center of the orb and the view in the
Bonnie drove back home to get the Camera but by the time she returned the Moon was too far gone to image.
I drove the scope back to the south and walked it up through the Corvus Constellation and a tad east to M104. We had the same view that I had the first time I found this galaxy. With the 7mm pentax it was dim and small and dusty. It took Bonnie a minute or so to resolve.
We did not stay long there. Bonnie pointed to a very bright "star" in the west and asked me what it was.
Venus was very very bright, refracting through the lower sky, and full of rainbow colors in the eyepiece. Since we now had the Nikon I decided to make an attempt at Venus photography.
After many exposures and adjustments I found one that I thought might be presentable.
I have gotten rusty and forgetful, but I still enjoy the night sky. I think my star hopping is really more like star stumbling now.
So Bonnie and I give you here for your viewing pleasure....VENUS ! :-)
Peace to all.
Keep looking Up.
