Thank you, Mike. It is good to hear from you -it has been a while.
Here is my report for Monday night 14th April out in the back garden from 9pm till midnight, folks. The sky was sure enough very clear.
1. We had to start with Jupiter. We used magnifications 40X, 112X, 140X and 167X. All 4 moons were very close to the planet. Callisto was furthest out west of Jupiter -not to far though. Io and Ganymede were very close together also west of Jupiter -Io north of Ganymede. Europa was east of Jupiter and was closing in on the planet. It transited at 21.30 and we could still observe it at 21.45. Just after midnight, we could see a very small black spot on Jupiter -it was Europa's shadow -tiny even at 167X! We could also see SEB, NEB, the North Temperate Belt and the South Temperate Belt. We were very satisfied with our observations of Jupiter.
2. Regulus: 7.9 magnitude companion visible at 11X and 40X. Separation: 2 minutes
3. Algieba: magnitudes 2.1 and 3.4 just about split at 40X; 4.6" separation; cleanly split at 112X. Both gorgeous yellow and an old favourite of mine.
4. M44 Beehive cluster -better at 11X on the guidescope than 40X in the main scope because it is more compact at lower magnifications.
5. Stf 1179: double star in Cancer, magnitudes 9.5 and 10.2 easily split at 40X. Separation: 21"
6. Stf 1283: double star in Cancer, magnitudes 7.7 and 8.5 barely split at 11X. Cleanly at 40X. Separation: 16".
7. Tegmine (Zeta Cancri); do you remember this testing fellow? A double at 40X, 112X and 167X. But it becomes a brilliant triple at 225X and especially at 280X -no need to go higher. Magnitudes are 5.3, 6.2 and 6.3.
8. Porrima (Gamma Virginis): lovely double north of Mars. In fact, Mars passes south of it in early May. Both components are 3.5, separation is now 2.1". Split at 140X and 167X.
9. Izar (Epsilon Bootis). Very testing double split at 167X. Magnitudes are the problem: 2.6 and 4.8.
10. A new triple for me south of Mars: Theta Virginis all 3 stars seen at 112X and 140X. Magnitudes 4.5, 9.4 and 10. Very pleasing sight before I head for Mars.
11. And so finally to Mars at 23.30 to midnight. At 112X, we could see the North Polar cap. At 140X, faint and large Mare Acidalium was sighted north of the equator. At 167X, some real action took place: 3 dark areas become apparent: Mare Erythraeum, Sinus Sabeaus and jutting extension, Sinus Meridiani were all very distinct. On the equator, plain beige Chryse where Viking landed in 1977. But we did see a lovely feature which is Aram. It sits between Mare Erythraeum and Sinus Sabeaus. It is narrow but has a bright albedo. I was not expecting to observe it.
I might observe Mars again tomorrow night Wednesday. I was very happy with my scope's performance on Monday night.
Thank you for reading.
Aubrey.
Hope it's better elsewhere. 
  