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Firstlight night.
Dave at the scope.
Beacons wink on the right flank in
anticipation of dark sky.

    One day you will reach the point in a telescope construction project that defines all of the reasons you began in the first place.  Regardless of the size, the toil, the cost or savings thereof, this point is the epitome of your work.  Through all the preplanning and worrisome details, thought and miscellaneous raw materials grow real enough to meet the sky.  First light!
    My own experiences Sunday, August 8th/9th 1999 rammed these realizations home once again.  I will document it here, for posterity, for the scope file.

Firstlight night.  Getting darker!

    9:30pm in Ohio.  Poor sky conditions however the inet maps show evaporation occurring in the region headed this way.  I just can't stand it.  This anticipation.  I HAVE to pack-out to the farm and wait it out!
    This is not the first setup.  Actually it's around the fifth time.  But THIS time is DIFFERENT, its under... THE SKY!  And its loaded with ... THE OPTICS!
    The sky that night turned so perfect as to have been only the vestige of a mad astronomers dream, and all worries were banished when absolutely astounding performance was had.
    It's frustrating to know this instrument cannot be used much until it has all of its parts completed, shroud etc., and then must be completely dismantled for finish applications.

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