After my ISS-Moon transit imaging attempt in the afternoon of Thursday, 16 April, I returned to the observatory that evening. My main goal for the session was some work with the newly released NightCap Pro v6 iOS app for my upcoming review. I also wanted to try to improve on the previous night's image of the M87 jet.

Open: Thursday, 16 April 2015, 1818 MST Temperature: 73°F

Session: 810 Conditions: Clear, light breezes

1826 MST: viewed Venus, 83X. Decided to Livestream Venus on Twitter using the Periscope app on my iPhone 5s. Mounted the iPhone on the 8" LX200-ACF using the MX-1 Afocal Adapter at 154X. Added a polarizing filter set to reduce the brightness of Venus to keep it from overexposing in the app. I then did a 10 minute Livestream session, which ended at 1853 MST. This is a frame from the saved video showing how Venus appeared to the viewers:

1856 MST: sunset. 1901 MST: the breezes ended.

1902 MST: viewed Jupiter, 83X. The four Galilean Moons were visible. 1903 MST: slewed to M42 (Orion Nebula). Six stars were visible, including four of the Trapezium stars. No nebulosity visible yet. 1932 MST: some M42 nebulosity was now visible. I mounted the iPhone on the telescope using the MX-1 adapter and did some work with NightCap Pro for my review.

2005 MST: began preparing to image M87 (galaxy) using the D7200 DSLR at prime focus. Did a focus test with the Bahtinov Mask using Regulus. Then slewed to M87. It was visible in the D7200 viewfinder. 2020 MST: end of Astronomical Twilight. Did unguided exposures of 30 seconds and 60 seconds at ISO 4000, ISO 5000, and ISO 6400. The 60 second, ISO 6400, best showed the jet from the galaxy's central black hole, seen at 4 o'clock in this cropped image:

2030 MST: ended DSO imaging. Resumed using NightCap Pro to get some images for my review. I hope to have the review online soon.

2243 MST: ended the NightCap Pro imaging and began closing up for the night.

Close: Thursday, 16 April 2015, 2254 MST Temperature: 46°F

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