Lovejoy fainter (Mississauga)

Viewed comet C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) in the Questar 3½ at 40x atop the large camera tripod.

Instrument: Questar 3½-inch Mak
Mount: tripod
Method: star hopping

As expected I knew it would take me a little while to find the comet.

First focused the telescope using Jupiter. Three moons visible. North and south belts visible.

Tried Alula Borealis and Australis as my star hop launching point. I think. At one point I realised I was looking at 46 Leo Minor and its little grouping of 3 bright and 1 faint star. Headed up and left! Spotted 27, 28, and 30. From there moved down a bit and to the right. Got it!

Faint! Seemed much fainter than the view yesterday in binoculars. I wondered if the sky was brighter with the clouds and damn full Moon and impending Sun. Could not detect the tail.

Stray light was bothersome. Should have worn a hoodie. Or brought out the Cloak of Doom.

Wondered about ISON. Grabbed the binoculars and tried to find Spica. From the deck, it was low, behind the trees.

Viewed ruddy orange Mars beside a white-blue star, σ (sigma) Leo, at 7x.

Noted Cor Caroli. Briefly considered some double star viewing. Nope. My bed was calling.