Observations made by The Meade ETX 90 are shown below. There are several excellent reports detailing what can be seen with this telescope.

Observer:	David Wallace
E-mail address:	daw@world.std.com
Web site:	www.home.attbi.com/~davidwallace2000
Date and time of Observation:	3/18/03 1900 - 2100 EDT
Observing Location:	Chelmsford, MA (USA)
Object Observed:	Jupiter, Saturn, M42
Viewing conditions:	fair
Telescope	Meade ETX-90 OTA on home-brew mount (90mm M-C)
Eyepiece	26mm SP, 15mm SP, 2X Barlow
Observing notes:	Saturn was small but obvious in the 26mm Super Plossel with Titan also visible. Switching to the 15mm increased the size and I could just make out the Cassini division in the rings. No detail on the planet itself. Adding the Barlow didn't help -- the seeing wasn't that good tonight. Jupiter and its four major moons were lined up nicely. I could see the two temperate-zone cloud bands, but the red spot (which I've yet to see) was on the opposite hemisphere. Again, I could push the scope to about 96X (26mm plus barlow) but trying for the full 167X was beyond the current sky conditions. M42 is always fun to watch. Best in the 26mm alone, I find. I tried to resolve the trapezium by switching to higher power. I know I saw three of the four stars, but I don't think I was able to split off the fourth one. Comment: I've been doing astronomy for only a few months now. First light was Alberio last August -- that was enough: I was hooked!

Observer:	Mark Licata
E-mail address:	m@upcountry.net
Web site:	www.oocities.org/CollegePark/Union/4502/HNIR.html
Date and time of Observation:	21 Jan 2001/23:00
Observing Location:	Skatenation Parking Lot
Object Observed:	M42 Jupiter Saturn
Viewing conditions:	Average
Telescope	EXT90EC
Eyepiece	26mm Plossl
Observing notes:	We just had our butts handed to us 7-2 (ice hockey) so I pulled my ETX out of the car and set it on the now empty cooler. We started off with planets; 6 bands on Jupiter, 3 moons of Saturn were visible to my surprise. Then I got lucky and found M42 in my viewfinder. Surprisingly good contrast and pretty clear delineation of the nebula for a light polluted Parking lot. I'll have to give it another look at home in the country w\o all the light pollution.

Observer:	Niall Glynn
E-mail address:	hglynn@eircom.net
Web site:	homepage.eircom.net/~niallglynn/home.htm
Observing Location:	co Galway, Ireland
Object Observed:	M1, M81 and 82, double cluster, auriga and gemini open clusters and an occulatation
Viewing conditions:	Excellent
Telescope	Meade etx-90/ec
Eyepiece	26mm plossl
Observing notes:	I started off with M42, it showed definite mottling, the dust within it was silhouetted Nicely by the nebulosity. It was about 40 arcminutes across. Next I went on to M81 and M82. Both of which fit nicely into the fov. Both seemed to have some structure when I used averted vision. I then used the autostar's tour function for a while. It suggested M79 - a moderate globular in lepus. It was a niice view but M 79 was just a fuzzy. I then had a look at M1, it seemed larger than I remember it, I really like M1 I suppose i'm fascinated at the story of it and it being visible to the naked eye in 1054. Next I did the run of open clusters, first I had a look at M35. This is my favourite open cluster along with the double cluster. It seems to have an infinite amount of stars, there seemed to be at least 100 Stars in the fov. Next came several more M36, M37, and M38. All of these are nice clusters as well and seem well suited to a wide field eyepiece. I next had a look at M31, it seemed quite large ( I traced it for 2 degrees). Next I had a gander at M33 which is quite a difficult galaxy I think due to its low surface brightness. Last but not least I was M51 and its attached galaxy NGC 5195, I found M51 quite hard to see although I do have a bad north horizon. To finish up I just watched my first ever lunar occultation at about 7 o clock this evening (the 1st). It was amazing the star was 30 piscium. I'm now waiting for 33 piscium to be occulted.

Observer:	Paul Clark
Date and time of Observation:	End of May 2000
Observing Location:	Algarve, Portugal
Object Observed:	Various
Viewing conditions:	Excellent
Telescope	Meade ETX 90
Eyepiece	26mm, Tele Vue 32mm, Tele Vue 20mm, 9mm Meade Super Plossl
Observing notes:	Astronomy on the Algarve. It only seems like minutes since my first observing report from Italy. A week of cold weather coupled with a forecast of rain, rain and rain sent my wife into a frenzy of net surfing and phone’ calls which resulted in a late booked week ‘somewhere’ in the Algarve. Arriving at 3 a.m. I could easily see Scorpius and Sagittarius standing high through the lights of Faro airport. This set the scene for six more nights of clear skies and darkness through the new moon period. My first brief session was from the deck of an empty beachfront bar/shack well sheltered from wind, spray and light pollution. At this latitude Mercury was well above the horizon at mag. -0.3 in rapidly darkening twilight. No grubbing around amongst the trees and houses in the northern twilight and light pollution of Manchester for me! Phase detail was seen at x128. The galaxy Centaurus A could be discerned as a large haze with nearby stars whilst omega Centauri appeared as a massive globular, both crying out for more aperture and altitude. It turned out that ‘somewhere’ in the Algarve was about 20 minutes drive from COAA. I was welcomed there the next day, watered and given a tour of the excellent observing facilities and accommodation. I certainly hope to holiday there soon however, you need to book early to get a place during dark sky periods. Bev. also pointed out an excellent nearby observing site for me to use. I drove to the site that evening. It was at about 800 meters and had a commanding view of the whole of the Algarve. After re-visiting omega Centauri/Centaurus A I was about to turn my attention to some overlooked Caldwells in Canes Venatici when the RA/Azimuth drive on the ETX failed! Forced into using more traditional methods, brain and eyes, I managed to track down the following objects. All could be found from nearby bright stars. Starting with Antares a quick scan found the enormous M4 and condensed M80 globular clusters. The Table of Scorpius dimly seen in Italy was a wonderful, small bright open cluster at mag. 2.6. M13 in Hercules was found but at a neck breaking angle for locating in the straight through finderscope on the ETX. M57, M58 and M29 in Lyra and Cygnus followed. The big naked eye clusters of M6 and M7 were easily seen in Scorpius. I spent the remainder of the session wallowing in the splendors of the Milky Way around Sagittarius. So, in astronomer’s paradise and no GOTO! Fortunately, back in the apartment, I had some half-sky maps showing Messier and Caldwell availability and some small FOV, detailed finder charts left over from my previous trip abroad. A couple of hours sketching lines, triangles, parallelograms and estimating distances resulted in a list of 75+ targets to try for. I also thought through a vague sequence that would avoid having to crane my neck at painful angles when trying to find objects at too high an altitude. I started at about 10 p.m. local time. Setup was very quick without the need for accurate leveling or any alignment routine. The scope’ slews very smartly by hand as well! I quickly found M13 at 50° elevation in the darker eastern sky. M92 followed using a parallelogram constructed out of part of the Hercules ‘plantpot’. The Beehive was dimmed somewhat by the twilight in the west and it took a few minutes to pick out M67 as darkness prevailed. The benefit of the southern location was immediately noticed when M68 a mag. 8.2 globular and M83 a galaxy low down in Hydra were easily found using Corvus as a pointer constellation. M65 and M66 in Leo were found first time in Leo mid way between two bright stars. I don’t know what happened to M95 etc. though. It proved very difficult to orientate correctly for any object far from bright stars that could be placed in the finderscope field. A quick spin round and M108, M97 and M109 were spotted near the bowl of Ursa Major before disappearing behind the trees. The Sombrero galaxy proved a difficult find in Virgo, far from bright stars and using a large, virtual right-angle triangle to find. After some sweeping the familiar asterism, known as Jaws, and galaxy slid into view. I realised that I had forgotten M81 and M82, these were nailed first time. The dark sky made this much easier with hazy objects sometimes just catching the edge of the eyepiece FOV. The dark sky also allowed a naked eye observation of M13 later in the night. A first for me and indicative of a limiting magnitude in the 6+ range for keener eyes. But, it didn’t help me unravel the Virgo clutter, abandoned after 15 minutes of fruitless searching. The easy globulars M3, M53 and M5 gave some respite. I had missed M5 previously wandering around Libra by mistake! The constellation of Ophiuchus had always been a mystery to me but with the good, dark skies and maps the constellation and globulars therein soon revealed themselves as impressive objects. I then returned to the ground covered during the previous session. Messiers in Scorpius plus Caldwell 75, a fine mag. 5.8 open cluster. The globulars along the base of the Sagittarius teapot, M69, M70 and M54 were easily seen. M54 particularly bright and condensed. M22 and M28 are by the lid of the teapot. Lagoon and Triffid nebulas made up steam puffs from the spout. By this time the Milky Way was stretching across the whole sky as a frozen cloud. The Small Sagittarius star cloud, M25 and M23 made for fine sweeping all in a row. The Eagle nebula caused a problem, the nebulosity was so bright I didn’t identify it initially and kept trying to make out the upside down tick of the Swan nebula instead! The bright star clouds made Scutum difficult to identify however, the Wild Duck cluster was striking enough to pop out from the background. Returning to the north west another silent, quick spin with the scope’ M51 and M101 in Ursa Major and galaxies M63 and M94 in Canes Venatici were low enough for easier viewing, but still difficult finding. Back to the east where Messiers in Sagitta, Lyra, Cygnus and Vulpecula were found and identified. All tricky against the Milky Way background with tired eyes. To the south, drawing a line through the teapot and beyond took me first time to a four star asterism on the border with Capricornus. This was fortunately on a detailed finder chart for M55 and M75. These had been very difficult with the Autostar in a hazy, low altitude position in Italy but were clearly picked up here. Moving the scope’ and tripod to allow a clear view of Cassiopeia the open clusters of M103 and M52 were ticked. The bright globulars of M15 and M2 provided suitably easy targets as my head, eyes and back told me they had had enough. The rising M31 and M32 galaxies in Andromeda provided the final easy pickings. In all I managed to find and observe 60 Messier and 2 Caldwell objects, plus numerous double stars, Albireo, Cor Caroli etc. during this 5 hour session. Messier Marathoners try to find the full 110 in one long dark night in late March. Any takers for the Algarve next year?

Observer:	Paul Clark
Date and time of Observation:	End of April 2000
Observing Location:	Florence, Italy
Object Observed:	Various
Viewing conditions:	Excellent
Telescope	Meade ETX 90
Eyepiece	26mm, Tele Vue 32mm, Tele Vue 20mm, 9mm Meade Super Plossl
Observing notes:	What I saw on my holidays A two week stay south of Florence, Italy presented the opportunity to observe many of the more southerly objects on my many ‘tick’ lists. I used my ETX90 EC, this I carried as take-on luggage for the flight down to Italy. The first session was on a warm humid evening. Now I understand what these Americans have to suffer it was too hot! The downside being very poor seeing with crud extending about 15 degrees above the horizon. I hoped to pick off some bright open clusters from the Caldwell list in Canis Major and Monoceros. These were lost in the evening twilight and murk. The seeing was so bad that I could barely make out the Ghost of Jupiter, a mag. 8.6 planetary nebula and the Spindle and Needle galaxies at around mag. 9. The rising moon put paid to any more observing that evening. Five days later things were looking better. A day of heavy rain showers followed by a cool cloud clearing north-easterly breeze boded well for a good session. I was not disappointed. From my observing site at about 1000m. elevation I experienced the clearest conditions I have ever seen!!! The Coma Berenices star cluster was a brilliant cluster of stars near the zenith, better to the naked eye than the Beehive! I started in the deep south by Hydra, Sextans and Corvus. The seeing made the Ghost of Jupiter jump out of the eyepiece as unmistakably not a star. I tried the UHC/Deep Sky filters that Roger had lent me however, despite increased contrast the overall view was not improved. The Spindle galaxy was this time bright, obvious and very spindley. M68 and M83, difficult from the U.K. were obvious, though unremarkable. The big ticks here were the two interacting galaxies NGCs 4039 and 4038 in Corvus, visible as a lobsided blob. All the better for knowing what they are and how they look in pictures. On familiar ground M67, the ‘other’ cluster in Cancer, looked far better through the scope’ than the Beehive, which needs a wider FOV than that available through the ETX. Skimming through Leo the ‘trio’ of galaxies looked excellent with the two vertical Messier galaxies hanging below the fainter horizontal NGC something. A check on the Sombrero, M104, showed a beautiful setting with a nice asterism to the west and I could easily imagine a dark lane running along the middle of the galaxy. Moving up to Coma three galaxies from the Caldwell list half seen, half imagined from the previous session were so clear that I could not believe I was looking at the same objects. Despite having finder charts from SkyMap Pro which confirmed all the observations! Next I tried higher powers on the big globular clusters M5, 92 and 13. M92 readily resolved at the edges whilst the others looked bigger and granular. M51, the Whirlpool galaxy was simply stunning, so bright with haze extending around it and over to the associated galaxy. I then notice that Vega was quite high and decided to try epsilon Lyrae. This double double split readily and the seeing easily accepted x256. Hopping down to the Ring nebula was a breathtaking find with it being so clearly defined at x128. The Dumbbell was equally spectacular. Finally I ticked a few Messier globulars in Ophiuchus, not impressive owing to their low altitude. Reluctantly I had to end the session at around midnight with Scorpius rising from the horizon. I had hoped to finish off a complete round of the Messier list whilst I could see the southerly objects from a favourable location and so a few days elapsed waiting for the moon to wane and a clear night to appear. Fortunately following some thunder storms the skies started to clear two nights before we were due to return home. Starting at about 00:30 local time this was to prove quite an arduous session, even with the aid of the Autostar and detailed finder charts. The sky gradually cleared throughout the next four hours however, a lot of the time was spent low down in the south and south east trying to pick off the objects as they rose through a light haze. The globulars in Ophiuchus passed by easily, I’m sure they warrant further viewing in an August evening. The big open clusters in Scorpius looked the part as they rose to about 15 degrees. The Butterfly was true to it’s name. A bright mag. 2 cluster, the Table of Scorpion?, was also seen in the haze of 3 degrees altitude. The Wild Duck cluster in Scutum was also a gem. Then I moved on to Sagittarius. The sights to be seen here cannot be underestimated. Staring into the centre of our galaxy for the first time was a profound experience. Eagle, Swan, Triffid and Lagoon nebulas plus a feast of stars. Reason enough to travel south in the summer. Difficult low altitude globulars followed with lots of averted vision and scope’ joggling, led to a touch and go final tick of M30 in Capricorn through the morning twilight. Thus endeth a fine holiday experience. The use of the Autostar combined with excellent finder charts has certainly made it possible for the beginning astronomer to travel the universe. Now I’ve got to learn to do it without

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