I got to the Flatin Farm and set up around 7:30 p.m. The first star I saw I thought was Arcturus, but it turned out to be Jupiter! Boy am I ever rusty, astronomy-wise.
Then Stup showed up, I told him about my goof and we just looked at the gorgeous clear sky and watched as all the 1st mag. stars popped out (Arcturus, Sirius, Procyon, Capella, Aldebaran, Regulus, Betelgeus and Rigel, then the Belt of Orion and finally Spica. Mars was the 2d most obvious thing after Jupiter. It was wonderful, almost like coming home after being gone for a while. 🙂
Jupiter had a nice spread of moons, all 4, 2 on each side. Mars had obvious surface features and a tiny polar ice cap! 1st time this opposition that I could see anything other than a bright pale orange disc. Steve made his initial foray into the Virgo group of galaxies and not suprisingly had a tough time of it, just like I did back in 2004. The wind was gentle to start with, but kept increasing as the night went on. We saw an ISS pass at 10:06 and watched as it faded just above us at the zenith. The horizon shadow had crept that high. Stup spotted it, or I wouldn't have, because I was checking my star chart for V Corona Borealis.
I had a long, unsuccessful search for V Cor-Bor, but managed to pick up VY Ursa Majoris. It was obvious, but pale orange red, not a dark intense red like some carbon stars. Watched Moonrise just before midnite, then packed up. Very windy by then. Still it was definately AGNFA!! 8)