I was out back last night here at Broken Wallet Farm at 10:30 to listen for
migrating songbirds , but heard 'nary a bird.  I then remembered to look to
the SE at Jupiter... sure enough, the brightest object in the sky, save for
a half-moon.  I decided to give the trusty Nikon fieldscope a try at
celestial observations, and oh my goodness, what an AMAZING result!  There
was Jupiter in all its glory, with such detail as I have never witnessed
before!  Bands on the gas giant were clearly visible, and four of its moons
were neatly strung out on the horizontal plane like a sparkling diamond
neclace.  I had no idea my "birding" scope would excel as a telescope.

This is the closest Jupiter will be in relation to Earth's orbit for many
years, so you might want to gaze up in the next few nights for a once in a
lifetime experience.

Simply astounding.


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Frank Boyle
Rohrersville, MD

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-- 
"The most powerful weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the
oppressed" - Stephen Biko