Comet Machholz, Saturn and the moon

Conditions:
Clear, poor transparency, seeing 2/5, moon at 62.2% waxing gibbous

Targets Observed:
Comet Machholz, Saturn and craters Plato and Archimedes

Music
None

Notes
Another clear and cool night, and everything well placed for viewing the night's prime targets.

Started with Comet Machholz which tonight is in Eridanus, a dim constellation south west of Orion. The comet lies two biocular fields WSW of Rigel (beta Ori) and appears just less than one field away from Zaurak (gamma Eri). It forms a little triangle with two magnitude 6 stars. The comet is glowing at magnitude 4.8, and is very easy in binoculars, even with a full quarter moon in the sky. No tail visible tonight, but there is some distending and the coma shows an intensity, but not a prick of light in my scope at 91x.

Moved on to Saturn, which is in Gemini, and sporting Titan at a PA of about 240 degrees. A clear dark band could be seen across the face of the planet. Caitlin had her first glimpse tonight and it blew her away.

We finally took in the moon, which is waning past it's first quarter. Crater's PLato and Archimedes were in glorious relief. Only a little viewing was possible before the moon flitted behind the Douglas-firs.