The observatory was opened at 1815 MST, 77°F. 1820MST: viewed Venus, 77X, very low in the west. The view was interesting, as the planet flashed red, yellow, green, blue, and white. Then it was up to the moon. Switched from the diagonal to the visual back and set up for iPhone imaging. This is afocal 77X, MX-1 adapter, Camera app:

I added the 3X TeleXtender, yielding 231X, and took these iPhone 4 images, slightly cropped from the full frame:

I switched back to the diagonal and did some lunar terminator observing. Nice views at 206X, with shadows and crater details very sharp. I then viewed Neptune, Uranus, and Jupiter. The four Galilean moons were visible.

1905 MST: Slewed to the star Menkib (Xi Per), the first spectroscopy target for the night. It would be my first spectral type O. It was too low in the sky for good imaging, so while waiting for it to rise higher, I did some sky viewing with 7x50 binoculars. 2030 MST: began setting up for D7000 spectroscopy at prime focus of the 8" LX200-ACF using the Star Analyzer. At 2040 MST, I captured this (processed) image, 1/5sec, ISO 2000:

Menkib - Spectral Type O7

2049 MST: I ended imaging and began an extended period of observing Jupiter with the 9.7mm (206X) eyepiece + moon filter. At 2213 MST, I ended Jupiter observing and viewed M45 (Pleiades); some nebulosity was visible at 77X and 133X. Then to M1 (Crab Nebula), low in the east. Viewed it at 133X; too low in the sky for good viewing. 2245 MST, M1 was now higher in the sky and provided good viewing at 133X. Some structure in the nebula was visible.

I then went to Alnitak (Zeta Ori), another spectral type O star. It cleared the tree at 2320 MST and I began setting up for imaging. At 2330 MST, took this (processed) image, 1/50sec, ISO 2000:

Alnitak - Spectral Type O9

Ended imaging and at 2340 MST, took a quick look at M42 (Great Nebula in Orion). Lots of details were visible in the nebula.

Closed the observatory at 2350 MST, 65°F.

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