Monday morning, 16 May 2016, I went to the observatory to do some improvements. Now that I have the LX600, wedge, and pier, some changes were needed in how some cords were routed and placed. When not in use, the DSLR camera AC adapter cord is now looped over a hook attached the wedge:

When I switched from a ScopeStuff AC Adapter for the 8" LX200-ACF to the Meade AC Adapter for the 12" LX600 I discovered that the Meade cord was larger in diameter. Previously I had run the ScopeStuff cord plus the GC Wi-Fi Adapter AC cord and the DSLR AC cord through a single (1-channel) "cord protector" rubber mat on the observatory floor. The Meade AC cord plus the other two cords required that two mats be used, as seen in the top photo below. I purchased a short piece of a 3-channel cord protector from Home Depot and it worked perfectly for all three cords, as seen in the bottom photo. Much nicer.

Open: Monday, 16 May 2016, 1810 MST Temperature: 91°F

Session: 962 Conditions: Mostly clear, windy

Equipment Used:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
Wireless AutoStar II handset
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
1.25" 26mm eyepiece
1.25" 3X TeleXtender

Camera:
D7200 DSLR
iPhone 6s Plus

Delayed uncovering the telescope due to the wind.

While I was waiting, a local Gambel’s Quail came to visit:

1842 MST: took this photograph of the Moon in the bright blue sky, D7200 DSLR, f/11, 1/250sec, ISO 400, FL 140mm:

1850 MST: checked the wind forecast. Now the forecast showed very little decrease in speed after sunset. Decided to do some quick lunar observing and imaging with the 12" LX600. Powered on the LX600. StarLock OFF. Viewed the Moon, 102X.

Took this handheld afocal 102X photo of the Moon using the iPhone 6s Plus:

Mounted the iPhone on the telescope using the SteadyPix Universal Smartphone Telescope Photo Mount for some iPhone afocal imaging at 281X. Used the iPhone earbuds/mic volume control as a remote shutter release. These photos have been cropped from the full-frame images:

Crater Copernicus


Crater Tycho (above center) & Crater Clavius (below center)

1906 MST: began closing up due to the wind. The sun had not quite set yet.

Close: Monday, 16 May 2016, 1920 MST Temperature: 76°F

Session Length: 1h 10m Conditions: Mostly clear, breezy

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