"Buttercup"

Shown above is the same old, banged-up 60mm refractor that appeared earlier in this blog. The telescope has been improved here and there. After adding some weight inside the rear of the OTA the scope balances better in its fork. The altitude trunnions have been attached more solidly than before. The tube assemblies have been painted yellow with black trim. The wood tripod legs have had their dark paint removed and replaced with a somewhat lighter stain and varnish.

In the tradition of my other telescopes, this one also has acquired a name. Today marks the birth and first-light of "Buttercup".

Venus was Buttercup's first target. Shown above is the rough, at-the-telescope sketch of Venus made at 1:00 on 04 March 2009 U.T. at 70x. Unfortunately the sky had clouded over by the time I went back outside in the hope of observing the moon.