
September 20, 2025 Seagrave Observatory Night
by Robert Janus & Matt White
Here is a report for the 12 inch Meade.
The cool, clear, moonless night provided good conditions for viewing deep sky objects with the 12-inch Meade. It is a pleasure to operate the recently installed motorized roof roll-off. No longer is it necessary to move the roof by brute force.
Here is what was seen in the eyepiece: M11, M13, M16, M31, M57, Alberio and the "star" of the evening, Saturn -- its rings nearly edge on along with its moons Titan and Rhea, The planet never fails to evoke amazed and delighted reactions from visitors who are seeing it through a telescope for the first time.
Next door in the Patton shed Jay Baccala had set up his SeeStar. He showed visitors fantastic astrophotos that were being generated in real time on his tablet of the objects they were viewing though the Meade 12 eyepiece. Although slightly below the Meade's field of view, NGC 7293, the Helix planetary nebula, was imaged by the SeeStar perched on the Patton observing stool.
– Bob
I showed Vega and Saturn on the Clark. With the S30 in the front courtyard, I showed M31, M57, M27, and M102. We had about 30 guests.
– Matt