Opening the Dome

So the first night of my "learning experience" was a success. I met Art, the man who I had been emailing with and he was an amazing teacher. I learned how to use the camera (a digital DSLR) and how to take it apart, and put it back together. It seemed easy, but then I had to do it in the dark. This happened when we went out to the domes. He taught me how to open the dome, (with a huge crank) and how to prepare the telescope we'd be using. Unfortunately, it had started to rain which put my first photography class on hold. However, I still learned how to attach the DSLR to the telescope, and how to use the telescope. The feeling of being in a real observatory without any other people except my teachers were amazing. I got to see what being an astronomer really feels like. I came out after about two hours, having had the experience of a lifetime- and I haven't even started yet.