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2022-01-01

This was my first year with star gazing! I began researching tips for beginners and one of the most repeated pieces of advice was to keep a journal of my observations; so that is what I'm setting out to do! There are only a handful of viewing sessions late in December 2021 that I did not record, and most of those sessions were related to me figuring out how to work the telescope and find targets.

Goals

Learn how to use my telescope and understand the German Equatorial Mount
Complete the Messier Catalog in 2022
Complete the Astro League Double Star list in 2022 (I added this goal in early May)
Learn how to journal my observations and at least make crude sketches of what I see

Image

Upgrades

April 14th: SV135 zoom lens (21mm - 7mm)
April 20th: Upgrade to a Crayford focuser. (The holes for the old plastic focuser did not align as expected and were about 1.5mm off. I had to drill new holes in the tube and plug the old holes with small plastic caps)
April 23rd: SV182 finder-scope
May 12th: 3x Barlow
May 16th: First Light EXOS Nano mount and tripod

Highlights

Figuring out how to work the GEM mount setting circles, then realizing that star-hopping is far more enjoyable.
Seeing M44 for the first time. This was the moment I got "hooked".
Figuring out averted vision and realizing how important it is.
Assembling a star atlas; the free "Deep Sky Hunter" printed on 11x17 and put into two 11x17 binders with sleeves (one for the northern hemisphere, one for the southern hemisphere)
Splitting a star for the first time. After attempting δ Boötis, I decided to add the Astro League double star list to the goals for this year
Finding a good viewing location under the southern radio tower on Terry Peak.
Seeing the strip of the Milky Way from a darker location
Getting a week of really dark skies at Erik's Ranch

This year was a blast, but I'm beginning to think that 210 targets in a single year is a bit much. I think next year I'm going to attempt 70 Caldwell targets plus a few choice selections. I also want to slow down and start working on better sketches of what I observe.