I like visual observing and locating deep-sky objects manually, making notes and drawing what I see via the eyepiece. I don’t embellish my drawings or use any computer enhancements.
To locate my selected deep-sky objects, I just match up my finder view with an atlas and attempt to point the scope at the exact spot.
I use different sizes of brass and steel rings to match my finder(s) field of view. My choice for the last 15 years plus have been the S&T Pocket Sky Atlas’ which are compact and easy to use in the field. The black stars are so much easier to use as compared to atlas’ with white stars on black backgrounds. Plus, I like the larger format pages of the Pocket Sky Atlas’.
If you will notice, I draw circles (on the atlas pages) are for my “selected” objects. I don’t mind all of the drawn circles, soaked pages from dew, which shows the atlas’ have been well used.
A few examples of my humble pencil sketches. I have more than 200 sketches using this format (5 x 8) and about 1,500 using much smaller 3 x 5 cards.
I’ve had an interest in amateur astronomy since I was 12 years old in 1965. My older brother Jim, had purchased a 60mm f/15 equatorially mounted refractor. I began using this telescope to observe the moon. I really wanted to see some of those beautiful spiral galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae I’d seen in my 6th grade science book. However, this was just not my time for going beyond the solar system, as I needed to learn my way around the sky.
In March 1977 I would purchase my first “very own” telescope: A 4.25-inch EQ mounted reflector. A humble telescope by todays standards, but this would begin my quest to become a serious amateur astronomer, which continues even to this day. This telescope was only a beginning, as I would later own at least twelve or more. However, as of today I have only four telescopes, with each having a specific purpose. Earlier this year (2026) I sold my 10-inch f/4.5 EQ Newtonian, and Vixen 102 mm refractor. It was just time to downsize.
In 1986, the year of Halley’s Comet, Brad and I became a founding members of the newly formed “Cleveland County Astronomical Society” meeting at various locations for a few years.
The club for the past 35 years meets once a month at the Williams Observatory on the campus of Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.
It was actually my youngest son, Brad who read an advertisement in the local newspaper. The ad was asking for anyone interested in being a part of establishing an astronomy club in Cleveland County. We were all in !!
Photo below: That same year, we would begin meeting for deep-sky telescope observations at the Polkville airport which was our designated dark-site for a few years.
That’s me, behind the telescope, and Brad is the youngest person in the photo. It was a hot summer afternoon and I would ride my bicycle to Polkville, and actually changing out of my cycling clothes for the photo.
Photo as following: 1994″Regional Gathering of Amateur Astronomers” Cleveland County Astronomical Society current and former officers.
Also Tom Lorenzin (to my left) Astronomy writer and author of “1000+ The Amateur Astronomer’s Field Guide…”
Below: John Dobson the inventor of the Dobsonian telescope would visit the CCAS during the 90’s
James Mullaney, astronomy writer and author, former Sky & Telescope editor, former DuPont planetarium director. Jim would give a presentation to the CCAS on a Saturday afternoon in November 1995. He would give another presentation to the club at the Thursday night club meeting at the Williams Observatory. Later that evening we would have dinner with both Jim and his wife Sharon.Jim was honored with the naming of an asteroid in 2025.
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In 1993, I had just completed observing “visually” all of the objects in the classic book “The Finest Deep-Sky Objects” by James Mullaney and Wallace McCall. I really enjoyed this book and upon completion wrote James (Jim) a handwritten letter. This was in the days before emails, at least for me. A few weeks later I received a letter back from Jim, which began a friendship that continues to this day.
I had the honor and privilege of reviewing the original hardcover edition of Leslie Peltier’s classic Starlight Nights: The Adventures of a Stargazer in the February 1966, issue of Sky & Telescope.
The magazine had just published Wally McCall and my three-part series “The Finest Deep-Sky Objects” and the editors thought I would be a good fit to review Leslie’s book. This was followed by extensive correspondence with him, which in turn resulted in two visits to Delphos, Ohio, to meet him in person.
I was there by myself the first time in October, 1968, and among other things he autographed my review copy with the words “Good friend and most kind “reviewer.” With very warmest regards, Leslie Peltier“
He let me hold the famed “starberry spyglass” and we inspected his huge observatory with the 12-inch Clark refractor. But the most thrilling thing for me was that this famed observer let me sit in his seat in the amazing “Merry-Go-Round” observatory with it’s historic 6-inch richfield refractor. Leslie used this telescope for most of his dozen comet discoveries.
This wonderful afternoon was topped-off by an incredible Sunday dinner made by his wife, Dottie before I started the drive back to Pittsburgh.
The second memorable visit followed a year later accompanied by Wally McCall. We both came away from the visits feeling that we were in the presence of a divine being.
James Mullaney
James (photo as following) most recently was honored with the naming of an asteroid:
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Meade 10-inch f/4.5 EQ Newtonian model DS-10A pictured below.
I’m really glad I talked with Fred Pauli on that February night so many years ago and “made the decision upon his recommendation ” to purchase the 10-inch. At that time, I had no idea I would eventually spend more 1,500 hours with this telescope under a night sky over the next 34 years. I would also make hundreds and hundreds of observing notes and pencil sketches using this telescope. It was a revelation going from a 4-inch telescope to a 10-inch.
The telescope was really large and heavy, but I didn’t care, as the views made the extra effort worth it! However, the time had come for me to find a new owner for this telescope. It was getting heavier and heavier with each passing year and the time had come to find a new owner for this telescope. However, the scope had served me well for more than three decades.
I ordered the telescope from Pauli’s Wholesale Optics in Danbury, Connecticut, on Wednesday, February 5th 1992 at 9:00 PM from the owner himself…Fred Pauli. It was Fred that recommended the 10-inch. This was in the days before email or ordering online. I would purchase a lot of astronomy equipment over the next eight or ten years from Wholesale Optics.
Sometimes I’d call and place an order at 10:00 in the morning, sometimes 10:00 at night, but whenever I’d call, it was always Fred who answered the phone. I’d talk with Fred briefly, give him my Master Card number and would normally receive my order in about a week.
When I got home from work on Monday, February 10th, some large brown corrugated boxes were stacked up in front of my garage door.
I was wanting to purchase a smaller Newtonian, but Fred Pauli recommended a larger 10-inch telescope. At that time, I had no idea I would eventually spend more than 1,500 hours with this telescope under a night sky over the next 34 years. I would also make hundreds and hundreds of observing notes and pencil sketches.
This telescope allowed me to become more active in my local astronomy club: The Cleveland County Astronomical Society, and then about eight years later, the Las Vegas Astronomical Astronomical Society. I had family living there, and still do. It was with my local club that I began writing observing articles for the monthly newsletter.
After becoming a member of the Las Vegas Astronomical Society in about December 2008, I met Fred Rayworth. The both of us were visual observers, and founded the Observer’s Challenge report. Our first report was issued in February 2009. Fred and I compiled the report through about 2017.
After years as a report contributor, Sue French became an administrator in 2018, and then co-editor with myself in compiling the report for its last five years. It was Sue’s notoriety, as an editor for “Sky & Telescope” magazine that helped gain a much wider audience of more serious amateurs. Sue deserves much credit for the report’s success and continued success.
The report continues to have high daily downloads, despite the last report being issued in June, 2024. There are both astronomy clubs and amateurs at-large that continue to use the challenge report for reference or as an observing agenda.
The larger aperture of the 10-inch versus the smaller telescopes I’d been using, allowed me to make far better pencil sketches, and observing notes. A sampling of my pencil sketches without any embellishments, and without the use of a computer. I have hundreds and hundreds of pencilsketches.
Life changes:
After spending so much time and effort over the past 34 years under a night sky…my observing will now be far less and I’ll be going back to using small telescopes. And I have so many other interest, like cycling, weight lifting, history and especially local history. I also need to note, most importantly…I have a family. 🙂
I used an Orion 80mm f/5 refractor telescope and a Nikon D3300 camera for my very first photo of the moon:
Other attempts of the moon:
Easy enough to attach the camera to the telescope:
I changed the “single-screw” attachment ring on the back of the telescope, to a more secure “carbon-fiber” ring with two-screws to more securely hold the camera: Debbie
An observing event was held last night (February 19th 2026) on the campus of Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC, featuring a custom made 29-inch telescope by Don Brooks. Don has been active in amateur astronomy for many years, and is currently the President of the Cleveland County Astronomical Society.
It should also be noted: Longtime CCAS member, Steve Davis also attended the event last night. Steve works at the “Bare Dark Sky Observatory at Mayland Earth to Sky Park” and is an operator of the 34-inch telescope. The facility is located in Burnsville, NC and the 34-inch telescope is one of the largest public telescopes in the southeastern US.
I’ve been friends with both Don and Steve for more than 30 years.
The telescope:
It has a 29-inch mirror which was produced by Coulter Optics in California during the 80’s. No one seems to know “definitively” how many 29-inch mirrors were produced. Don is aware of “possibly” eight to ten. However, I communicated with an amateur on (February 20th 2026) living in Minnesota who has one in storage, which would add to the count.
Don built everything (other than the mirror and the focuser) which was an extraordinary task. A mirror this size has incredible weight and the mirror cell must be built strong enough to properly hold and secure without causing stress to the mirror. Building only the mirror cell is an engineering feat in itself.
I can’t properly convey just how difficult building a telescope this size would be, and the mechanical skills required.
Below: Don gets the telescope ready for the evening.
The mirror cell designed and build by Don, is both beautiful and strong with 27-points of support.
Custom Focuser:
Rocker Box:
Don Brooks and Billy Fisher setting up the telescope. It became too cold for me, and had to leave shortly after sunset.
In about 1991, I began looking for something larger than my 4.5-inch reflector which I was using at that time. The Meade Deep-Space series Newtonian’s consisted of two telescopes: A 10-inch and 16-inch f/4.5 with equatorial mounts.
This was at a time when Meade was building their serious Newtonian’s in their Costa Mesa, facility, which included grinding and polishing mirrors. All of the hardware, bolts and Allen heads on these telescopes and mounts are SAE, not metric, which goes back to days past.
Astronomy Magazine tested a 10-inch DS-10A (The 10A was an updated version with a 2-inch focuser, setting circles, and RA drive) with the magazine giving the test mirror a rating of a B+.
So, in February 1992, I purchased the 10-inch from Pauli’s Wholesale Optics, in Danbury Connecticut. It was Fred (the owner of Pauli’s) that recommended this telescope. It was a good decision as I have been successful in making more than 1,500 deep-sky pencil sketches and thousands of observing notes.
The low pedestal mount is ideal for use with an astro-chair, when making observing notes and pencil sketches at the eyepiece. As for me, it’s impossible to observe and sketch while standing.
The new owner of this fabulous telescope which served me well for 34 years. I spent over 2,000 hours under a night sky and thousands of pencil sketches of deep-sky objects, and the scope is still in pristine condition. The telescope was always stored inside and in a padded zip-up bag.
It was a sad day, but a happy day as the “perfect amateur” came to take this scope. I’m sure it will allow him at least 34 years of deep-sky observing also.
The first night out (Friday February 13th 2026) the new owner has already imaged the Orion Nebula, Jupiter and other deep-sky objects. This is actually an imaging telescope, with the mirror moved up for full illumination, and with an RA drive, which I never used. An extender tube is required for visual observing.
The new owner is a professional high-speed video camera expert for industrial applications and also an experienced amateur astronomer.
Yes….the very first images and on the very first night out! I’d say pretty impressive!
Orion Nebula:
Jupiter
M42 (with night vision) I’d like to encourage more people to get into Night Vision Astro.
For the past year or more, my Celestron CGE-Pro mount was seemingly having a difficult time centering selected deep-sky objects. The motors also did not sound good at times when moving to the selected objects. I also had to perform a factory reset on the settings every few months.
Rather than updating the firm ware for a 15 year “maybe older” hand controller, my son Brad, surprised me with a new Celestron NexStar+. However, I was concerned if it would be compatible with the older mount, but I’m happy to say…it worked perfectly!
I first updated all my site settings using the new hand controller, which is an easy task using my iPhone compass feature for the time, latitude, and longitude. There are other settings such as DST or Standard, and a few others.
Last night, and with a bright moon, I wanted to verify the mount and hand controller in all functions. I began the sequence of the mount start-up. Then the three-star alignment, which after the first star, were all centered in the telescope field-of-view.
The first thing I noticed was the two motors sounded much smoother. I was actually getting concerned the motors might be having problems. I’d read in an article a jerky motion or sound of the motors was a sign that a motor might be going bad. So, I was now feeling really good, but how would the GoTo function perform when locating deep-sky objects?
My first object was the Andromeda galaxy, and with the sound of both motors, and going in different directions, I anxiously waited for it to stop. I then looked into the eyepiece and the galaxy was perfectly centered! The next object would be planetary nebula M57, far to the west from Andromeda, which would make for a great test. The planetary…like Andromeda was “perfectly centered” in the eyepiece. I then selected about 15 other deep-sky objects, including a few double stars. Everything worked perfectly. I was excited to say the least!
I’m so appreciative to Brad for my new hand controller. Despite not ever using the mount, he always seemed to know much more than me, and all the way from the west coast. 🙂 Electronics and electrical stuff are his thing and occupation...not mine for sure.
The CGE-Pro mount has bronze gears and was the most heavy-duty mount ever sold by Celestron, with a 90 pound payload.
The mount works well with a 6-inch Newtonian also as following:
After removing the mirror, take a sheet of notebook paper, lay on the mirror and trace around the outer perimeter. The following is a 4.5-inch mirror which I center-marked earlier this year.
Fold the circle template in half, then quarter and then make a tiny hole in the center with any small sharp object. Now take a black Sharpie and “lightly dot” the center of the mirror, via the tiny hole. Now you are ready to replace the mirror and begin collimation. I’m not going to discuss collimation in this post, but have provided the following link from “High Point Scientific”…which is excellent.
A collimation tool will be needed: I use a homemade machined collimating tool (see below) which works great. However, consider a Cheshire collimating eyepiece which is not very expensive at all. I have a Cheshire eyepiece, but most often find myself using only my homemade tool. A laser collimator is not necessary.
A couple photos of my Cheshire eyepiece as following which I also use on occasion:
While the mirror is out, it’s the perfect time to check if cleaning is needed.
The following procedure has allowed me to clean telescope mirrors with excellent results. It should, however, be noted that your results may vary. And mirrors coatings are very delicate, so be careful and use good common sense and care.
I was surprised to get a phone call at about at 9:45 last night (November 13th) from a long-time friend and amateur, Don Books. He told me that he was seeing some color from his home in South Carolina. I jumped out of bed, got dressed and ran outside, but visually couldn’t see anything from my suburban backyard. However, with a 3-second exposure, again from my iPhone 14, and some color began to appear. It was nothing like the previous but an aurora display none the less. I’m glad Don called, and I share three of those photos as following:
Time 9:56 PM:
Time: 9:57 PM
Time: 10:00 PM and the aurora was already beginning to fade:
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