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[warthog]

My real name is Roger, but I go by Warthog on most forums. I'm a Canadian civil servant, currently on disability following a quad bypass. I've had my scopes out a couple of times recently. I am mostly a lunar and planetary viewer, because my skies are absolute crap.

I've enjoyed the use of another board which closed recently, where I enjoyed the contributions of Curt, who kept us up-to-date on notable occurrences. Sorry, Curt, I missed this month's thin crescent. ;D

[Centaur]

Welcome to your new discussion group, Roger. It was always nice conversing with you at Our Dark Skies. Indeed, it's a shame that Vincent had to close ODS, but participation had really fallen off. He and a few others from ODS are now Chicago Astronomers, albeit from a distance. I'm sure you'll enjoy the posts and people here, even if you can't come to Adler star parties.

Sorry you missed the thin crescent. A slightly fatter version will appear near Venus tonight with Jupiter below. And yes, all of the mods here are named Joe.

[warthog]

I went out last night with my little 65mm Mak, as I was hoping to be able to use it for quick trips outside. The tripod I was using was too light, but I had bought a heavier tripod at a garage sale last year for $5, as it didn't have a dovetail, so I made one and took it out last night. It was a better tripod, but still a bit difficult to point at objects easily. (I have a RDF on it, but still the tripod tends to drop when you let go of the lever.)

I got a good look at Crisium and Fecunditatis, and some of the craters along the terminator at 90x, but it was ghastly cold last night, and the brass monkeys were clamouring round my feet to be let in for the night, so I didn't stay too long. It may be a usefull scope for when there is someething interesting going on on a cold night, like an occultation that I can watch with such a small scope. I have hauled my 6" and 105mm out for an event some times, but when it's -13 outside I don't feel like setting up a scope that takes a half hour to set up. I may have to see if I can make a roll-off shed to put my scope in, that won't violate the zoning codes.