Well I made it out on both Monday and Tuesday evenings. First time the clouds rolled back and let the planetary alignment be views from area. It was amazing I could easily see four planet and the moon all at the same time. Rushed home and took my 10 and 3 yr old out to see. Had to drive a little ways but it was amazing how clear they were and easily seen. Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury and Venus along with just a slight sliver of the moon being illuminated.

It was a stellar sight because the sun was still lighting sky just a bit and you could see the entire moon, with only a bit lit up. It was around 9:00pm CST in Northern Texas.

Ventured out with the scope, a Tasco, on Tuesday with wife, 3 yr old, 10 yr old and sister in law out to the backyard. The moon and venus were side by side it was an amazing sight. Everyone took turns looking at the twosome through the scope, both easily fit in the 25mm. I put the 9mm in to look more closely at the moon and it was amazing the detail of the craters.

I tried to take a few pics with my old Pentax but the bright sliver of the moon was over exposed even at a count of 3. I might try again and just use one or two seconds.

My question is this... I have a Tasco 60x700, could I use it with some sort of mount to take pictures of the moon with?

Thanks
and Happy Star Hopping.

• I think you can - leonard - May 17, 2002 - 04:20 UTC