My lovely wife Linda has just bought me a new telescope (a Maksutov 127 relector on a 'go-to' driven mount) so I'm spending as much time outside as I can, trying to come to grips with its numerous complicated processes. I've already enjoyed terrific views of Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon and managed some reasonable images with a DSLR. Linda also bought me a state-of-the-art CMOS camera: hopefully I can master that before the amazing once-in-a-lifetime conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn on December 21st...

Twice in the past I've witnessed large, glowing, smoky rings in the sky: while I was trying out the 'scope a couple of nights ago (last week in November) I saw a third. I imagine these might be produced by fighter aircraft, perhaps burning off excess fuel before a 'pan' landing. I have to say, however, that on none of the three occasions did I actually hear a jet engine.

This is the new telescope: a Maksutov 127 reflector on an AZI WiFi driven mount: the camera is a ZWO ASI CMOS colour imager.