After setup we did some lunar observing and I did four sketches. I'm not going to post them at this time. One is horrible, the other three are okay but need some touch up. Then I'll post all 3. I need more practice at lunar sketching.
After looking at the moon for a good hour and a half I moved to Jupiter and noticed that seeing tonight was poor. I had intended to do a sketch of Jupiter but the seeing was just too poor. So I went up to Uranus which is just up and to the left of Jupiter and I did a simple sketch of Uranus, an Ice Giant. Here is the simple masterpiece. I sketched it so I could have it on file and because I wanted to remember a positive this night. I shouldn't say that but lunar sketching for me is a difficult process though I did realize a couple of things tonight.
Got the intelliscope working tonight so that was a good thing. I should have done some clusters in Perseus that I need for the H-400 but I didn't even think of it until I had torn down. Next time I will get them. Did look at M52 since it had been awhile and that was a pleasant object. I probably should have sketched it. We had a race tonight without any setting circles to see who could star hop quicker, me on the 14 or the teens on the 20. I beat them 7 to 3; they beat me to some open clusters like NGC 457 which they know well and a couple of others up in Cassiopeia. My daughter loves open clusters so that is what she goes for. The kids used the 20" tonight as I wanted them to get use to using it (they are afraid they are going to break a scope until they start using it, then they are fine).
Well, full moon is next week and I am heading off for a much needed vacation.
