Viewing Saturn

I took the kids out this morning to look at Saturn through the telescope. It was a rare clear day; the clouds of the last three months seem to have taken a break. And it was cold -- probably -5C out there.

First, though, we had a visit from Mustard Boy! He uses a frisbee for a weapon.

Arlo took this picture through the viewfinder, and it turned out surprisingly well. Saturn is just visible above (well, below) the rooftops. It wasn't the best location for viewing, but it was nice and close.

This, by constrast, is the crappiest afocal picture ever.

But on to the kids! The tempation to look down the tube of the telescope is nigh-inescapable.

Notice the stickers on the telescope. Some of those I added, but approximately 6 x 10^8 were added yesterday when the kids were bored.

Eli is small enough that I have to lift him up to see through the eyepiece.

Saturn was small -- 100x doesn't show a very big image -- but we had fun, didn't get cold and no one got their toungue stuck to the telescope. I declare that success.