Near Avebury, Wiltshire - Rob Slack

Equipment - Helios 200 mm reflector, EQ5 mount and various eyepieces.

Decided to brave the bitter cold and windy conditions last Monday and headed out away from the light pollution of Swindon. Hard to locate my normal stopping point, with some much drifted snow, some of which were higher than the car!

Wanted to observe Canis Major, a constellation I cannot see from home - too low. Although I can see the beacon that is Sirius. So swept about Canis looking for the many clusters in that region of the Milky way. Observed M41 before moving N East and picking out M93. Both really nice open clusters, around mag 6. They looked great through a 2" eyepiece.

Then moved onto M42 in Orion, well rude not to! Fantastic view this time with an OIII filter fitted. Could look at M42 this way for hours!

Finally and because it was so flipping cold, finished with Auriga and M36, M37 and the Starfish. Again really nice open cluster. Sadly the wind by now had picked up and was really rocking my scope. Plus my hand were beginning to go numb!

A quick warm drink break ( hot chocolate ), in the car with engine and heater running and a final view for the evening of the Pleiades before packing up.