Planets

Saturn

Of all the planets I like Saturn and Venus the best. The wish to

see Saturn again and again is easy to understand. No other planet

rivals its beauty in small telescopes.

I used to see it with a small 80-mm refractor. I couldn't see the

ring system, which is so disappointing. But with the big reflector,

I see not only the ring, but the Cassini division very clearly

at the east-west wide areas.

I've seen 5 moons of Saturn. Given the width and brightness of

Saturn, it's not always easy to find them. But if you can be just

patient enough and use the correct eyepiece, it's not that hard.

Titan sometimes wanders away, so it's easier to see it in low

power eyepiece. For the other moons, high power is better.

I'll try photographing Saturn when I have my camera mount.

Jupiter

Jupiter is the planet that kindles my interest in observational

astronomy. I couldn't see any surface details with my little

80-mm refractor back then. However, I saw the 4 Galilean Moons

the first I aimed the telescope at Jupiter.

It was very exciting. Knowing that I was seeing something Galileo

saw when he aimed his small telescope at the night sky and it

totally changed our view of the Solar system -- it's a priceless

feeling that I can still remember clearly to this day.

With the 150-mm DSH, I can see two "belts" on Jupiter. The south

belt "contains" the famous big red dot. Jupiter  is a disk now,

not just a dot. I know if I stay longer and try harder I'll see

the big red spot. :)

Venus

Venus is the brightest thing in the sky, just behind the Sun

and the Moon. I noticed it first when I was riding my bike

on the way to high school in the early mornings. Sometimes I

would wait and see what is the latest in the morning that I

can still see it -- when the sun already comes out and bright

day light is taking over. It's amazing how long you can still

see Venus after sunrise! Sometimes you can see the Moon on

one side and Venus on the other. Beautiful.

Seeing Venus at dusk is simply poetic. It lights the path

home for shepherds. I remember, of all the sightings of

Venus, in the year 1997, when I could see Venus and the comet

Hale-Bopp at the same time in the sky at dusk.

Venus still remains my favorite naked eye planet. It's something

to look for when you get up early or on your way back home,

depending on Venus's "mood".

Mercury

First time I saw Mercury was one morning that I got up early

on my 50-minute trip to high school. I remember Copernicus

regretted he didn't see Mercury. He must have been lazy!

But the best chance came in about 2 years ago, when the 5

major planets line up after sunset. Mercury is the hardest

to find but most rewarding after you see it, just because

it's not easy to see. I wish I'd have a chance to aim at it

with a telescope.

Mars

Mars was featureless in that little refractor. I haven't seen

it with the big reflector, but will try when it goes up

during "normal" hours.

Things I wish to see on Mars? Aliens...:) But to be more practical,

ice caps on both poles will be nice.