A Quick Peek

I was thrilled when the sky stayed clear last night and I was able to once again visit the Dearborn Observatory for their weekly rain-or-shine open house. The website said that reserved hours were from 9:00-10:00 and that the general public would then be welcome for walk-in visits from 10:00-11:00. I finished working out a little early and arrived at the telescope just before 10:00. There was a short line of kids and adults taking turns viewing Jupiter, each climbing a large step ladder to reach the eyepiece.

I was lucky to have showed up early. Turns out that "winter" hours began last night. Though it wasn't yet advertised on the website, public viewing actually began at 9:00 and ended at 10:00...I had arrived just in time to get one quick peak at a glorious Jupiter before the observatory was closed. Though my time last night was brief, I'm looking forward to more clear friday evenings; very glad I won't have to stay up too late to get some good views of a few of the sky's brightest objects...whatever the extensive level of local light pollution will allow.