bwh
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Meeting April 2009Wow!
What a stunning meeting, my first for 2 months, so well starved of astro talk. Turned up hopeing to see one or two scopes and found 8 in the cabin, a clear night, and Saturn and Mercury (a first sight for many) in attendance.
Big scopes (one monster dobsonian), medium scopes, very expensive scopes (wow.. drool), compact scopes and starter scopes galore!
Initial meeting was tea, biscuits and setup of scopes in the cabin, lots of talk and advice on initial setup (point your stand at North, and angle at 57 degress - good enough to start) and options and choices
Then at 9 we trundled out and Saturn was seen in West so scopes assembled and every one looks and though - ooohh thats a bit vague and un-saturn like - then found we all looking at a star (doh!) and we slewed the scopes to the South where Saturn was sitting with the rings (edge-on so not to stunning) but all able to grab stunning views of the planet, its rings and its moons.
Then at about 9:20 an erstwhile asto-geek with google phone (with stunning astro app - point phone at sky and it showed what you looking at !!!! - like skyscout but for £3.99 using a mobile phone) found that Mercury was in the West and visible - so several scopes slewed to the west and the very small planet was captured - for several astro-geeks this was there first view of this seldom seens (as so close to sun) wanderer.
Overall a fab meeting, lots of kit and people to see, lots of observeing through different scopes and eyepieces, young and old, new comers and experiences hands.
Nice biscuits too.
Wonderful.
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justanotherpete
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Thanks all that was a good night  hope we can do that again (weather permitting of course).
Pete
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Cosmic
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Hi All
Yes a truly magnificent meeting and a pleasure to be part of. Thank you to everyone who took the time to attend and bring your telescopes. We had a large variety on display and my first look through a quality APO Ed was thrill too.
Some great views of Saturn and a real treat too! Mercury!
My first time observing the Sun's closest neighbour and one I shan't forget for a long time to come.
For once it would appear that the Gods were smiling on us as the weather opened nicely for our meeting.
It will be more difficult to arrange observing nights with the summer coming, however we must entertain a firm hope that the Solar observing day at Dunfermline High School will be confirmed and that the weather will be favourable.
I am hoping to organise a late night observing session at the dark site for a saturday evening soon so any interested parties can show their interest here.
Because of the lateness of the session it is not suitable for young children.
To those of you who have missed a few meetings please try to attend and hopefully we can rekindle your interest.
Anyway I have waffled on enough so bye for now.
Cosmic
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