I ventured out with 7x50's binos both Friday and Saturday around 11pm CST. I live in North Texas up by Lake Texoma. The night was clear and cool on Friday a bit colder on Saturday. I went out the intention of just checking out the Moon since it was so clear and over half full.

While I was out I realized that since it was winter and the trees had dropped most of their leaves I had a decent view to the West. I had never noticed this before so it gave a whole new look to the sky. Orion was lower and so was Taurus along with all the others.

I went back inside and printed out a skymap and then went to looking. I found Aldebaran and Saturn and was amazed at how many stars are in the Hyades. It truly looks like a bull, through the binos. I found 4 stars just to the right of Saturn that look as though they would be the tail of Taurus if he was looking straight at you, on the north of Saturn.

I was unbelievable that I had never noticed the view I had to the west. Staying in the backyard cuts all the street light and neighborhood light pollution. I can't wait until the moon begins to fade so that the sky in that direction will even be darker.

Astronomy is a great hobby, and one that is well under understood as to how easily it can be enjoyed by anyone with or without telescopes or binos.

The moon looked great riding high in the sky, the shadows were marvelous. Anyone know where I can get a good map, online or in a book.

Even with the moon and with Jupiter I could spot all three moons on Friday, the other was intransit, and all four on Saturday one to the north and all the others to the South.

This is going to be one weekend to remember. It is supposed to be cloudy and down right cold this week, but hopefully Friday or Saturday I can get the trusty tasco out and swing it westward and a way we go...

bolintx

• Moon Book - bobsal - February 25, 2002 - 21:09 UTC