The Tarantula – From A Tasco To Through A Twenty Inch

The Tarantula – From A Tasco To Through A Twenty Inch

Paul and Sue are long time astronomy enthusiasts and are well acquainted with many of the marvels the night sky has on offer. Their tour with Honeysuckles Astronomy Tours was a gift from Paul to Sue arising out of just such an interest. Paul being an owner of a 60mm Tasco refractor – a popular smaller aperture telescope, was very keen to get a closer look at the night sky. They had both experienced views through larger telescopes, but the extra size of our instrument and luxury of having the viewing time at the eyepiece all to themselves, was what brought them to The Honeysuckles.
The giant Tarantula Nebula located in the Large Magellanic Cloud is a “stella nursery” of massive proportions almost 2,000 light years in diameter – that’s huge! Through our large reflector it appears as a menacing display of swirling gas tentacles (hence its name) wherein stars are being formed. It’s one of the Southern Hemisphere’s gems, visible only in southern latitudes …. Paul and Sue are returning again in August to view our Moon at First Quarter and Solar System giants Jupiter and Saturn. That promises to be a spectacular night!