Sky & Telescope - June 2021 - 84

FOCAL POINT by John Besse

Salvaging the Night
The author is caught off-guard - in the most pleasing way.

JUNE 2 021 * SK Y & TELESCOPE

By the time I'm done, it's dark and
I get to work, starting with radiant
Jupiter. I'm delighted to ﬁnd a bright,
colorful disk intersected by prominent
equatorial bands. Polar regions are
readily apparent, too. I move through
several eyepieces, trying different
ﬁlters along the way in an attempt to
discern the ﬁnest of detail and push
the limits of seeing on this gorgeous
night of steady air.
Somewhat content with my visit to
Jupiter - one long look is never really
enough - I slew over to Saturn with
expectation for a ﬁne showing, knowing the sky will support it. Anticipation gives way to awe as I marvel at the
ringed planet. It contrasts sharply

time. I'm keenly aware that I enjoy
this, the care and handling of my gear.
I treat it not as a burden but rather
as an opportunity to inspect things
and inventory my eyepiece collection,
reﬂecting on how it has grown over
the years, in both quantity and quality, and how my observing skills have
developed as I've learned to squeeze,
squint, and avert every bit of perfor-

Somewhat content with my visit to Jupiter - one long
look is never really enough - I slew over to Saturn
with expectation for a fine showing.
against the background black, a crisp
yellow orb wrapped in a set of rings,
not one but two, the distinct separation between them clearly evident. I
think for a moment that I should get
my CCD system but quickly dismiss
the notion as counterproductive. I'm
enjoying my time at the eyepiece, and
that's sufﬁcient for tonight.
I eventually surrender to growing
fatigue and begin to tear down my
telescope. With calculated, deliberate
motions, I dismantle it, wiping away
dew, returning each component to its
rightful place so it's ready for the next

mance out of my optics.
I head straight to bed, physically
exhausted but mentally stimulated. I
can't sleep - my observing session has
awakened youthful enthusiasm not
unlike the memory of one's ﬁrst love.
As I lie in bed, musing, it occurs to me
that I am fortunate to be so captivated
by an activity that has been part of my
life since childhood.
Engrossed in observing, I escaped.
Forgetting the world for a while, I
salvaged the night and transformed
an otherwise unremarkable day into a
fond memory. I am fortunate indeed.

W X OUT OF THIS WORLD A view of " just "
Jupiter and Saturn can be all that's needed
for an indelible evening under the stars. This
shot of Jupiter was taken on August 17, 2011,
that of Saturn on February 23, 2006.

JOHN BESSE is an electrical engineer
who lives in Millstone, NJ. He's been an
avid observer since he received his ﬁrst
telescope as a Christmas gift in 1982.

S E A N WA LK E R / S&T (2)

I LISTLESSLY ROLL the garbage can
down the driveway, my eyes ﬁ xed low,
aimlessly staring at the pavement
below. I'm worn down from a long day
at work, rattled from the commute,
and, despite the joy my wife and two
children bring me, uninspired for what
lies ahead: another weeknight routine
of ﬁ xing dinner, cleaning up, reviewing
mail, and preparing for tomorrow.
I begin the walk back to the garage,
my gaze lifting slightly, eyes tracing
up the trunks of the giant oak trees
that populate my backyard, until the
leaves give way to the sky. Then I see
them, just above the trees: Jupiter and
Saturn, their glow starting to emerge
from the fading twilight. I notice it's
an especially clear sky tonight, with
the Moon nowhere in sight.
I stop abruptly, realizing that these
are ideal conditions. Charged with
renewed energy, my childhood passion
for planetary observation aroused, I
instantly decide to set up my telescope
and pay a visit to some old friends.
I'm excited now, inspired for what
awaits. I bring my refractor outside to
acclimatize while I set about completing a few of the chores that comprise
my nightly routine. I do need to eat
after all!

Sky & Telescope - June 2021

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