Hi,

The other night 4/27/02 I got a glimps of Mercury. I had started with my newly purchased 25mm, and soon progressed in mag without discerning any detail. I had my Tasco 114mm reflecter and GTO plossl eps with a celestron shory barlow. I later picked up Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter. I couldn't get a beed on Mars as the sky kind of hazy, and late turned milky white from the moon. Really, the seeing was bad, but I did get a veiw of Mercury.

A few nights before 4/25/02 I got a good look at the moon transient on Jupiter. Just above the NEB was a little black bullet hole in the planet. As first I wasn't sure what I was observing, so I increased in magnification till I was sure it was the transient. Even so the seeing was bad that night. Could hardly pick up any m objects as the moon soon dominated the sky. It was so bright here it case shadows.

At any rate I have seen all the 5 naked eye planets with my scope and I am pleased.

Later,

Lenny

• By the Way - bobsal - May 1, 2002 - 13:14 UTC