Like an old friend

Last night I set up the telescope and I didn't really have any kind of plan. I wasn't sure Jupiter would be visible (I was right it's really to the south and in the trees from my driveway). The main point of the exercise was to set it up and make sure everything was working (including me on the whole setup and alignment thing.)

Not having a "go to" mount or telescope it's up to me to point the damn thing. I have setting circles which can be helpful, but I've never mastered them myself. As usual I didn't have much in mind so I head for my old friend M13. I swear once you've seen that thing and you can kinda get a clue from the Planisphere (which by it's very nature does not include planets.) where it is roughly it's like falling out of a boat from there. The only problem was it was just about straight up which makes actually pointing at it a little difficult and awkward with the equatorial mount.

I spent some time after locating it just scanning to the south with my binoculars. Some things looked familiar but it was getting late so I decided to call it a night. The best part was I checked and my telescope was still pointing at the same M13 as when I started. That means I set it up right. Maybe I'll go out again tonight and check things out.