Amateur Astronomy

In 2003, I got interested in amateur astronomy, and I began to observe at 31.1272°N, 95.4452°W. Light pollution, gauged on a scale from white (worst) though red, orange, yellow, green, blue, to black (best), is "blue" at this site. In two directions, SSE and N, unwanted light extends to approximately 20º and 10º above the horizon, resp. Otherwise, the sky is black. The current seeing conditions at this location are found here.

You can see a current sky chart (created by Sky & Telescope) for the site by clicking here. (Note: The applet will not work for all systems.)

I do only visual observing, no photography. (That's not quite true now.) Globular and open clusters are my primary targets. Otherwise, I am casually working my way through the 110 Messier Objects.

The telescopes that I use (have used) are these:

Takahashi Mewlon 180mm

Takahashi Mewlon 180mm
Takahashi Mewlon 180mm

Takahashi TSA 120mm

The Takahashi 120

Takahashi TSA 102mm

The Takahashi 102
The HalfHitch mount

Takahashi TOA 130mm (#S03005)

The Takahashi 130
The Takahashi again

Meade AR5 120mm (sold)

The Meade AR5
The Meade replacement

Celestron C8 (courtesy of John W. Baker)

The Celestron C8
The Celestron again