Saturday, 5 November 2016, was clear but did not open the observatory due to another commitment.

Open: Sunday, 6 November 2016, 2154 MST Temperature: 62°F

Session: 1036 Conditions: Clear

Equipment Used:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
Wireless AutoStar II handset
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 30mm eyepiece
1.25" 15mm eyepiece

Camera:
iPhone 6s Plus
D7200 DSLR

2200 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

2203 MST: viewed the Moon, 102X and 81X.

Began setting up for iPhone imaging with the 12" LX600 telescope. Mounted the phone on the 2" 30mm eyepiece using the Levenhuk adapter. Used the earbuds/mic volume control as a remote shutter release. Took this iPhone image of the Moon:

2217 MST: set up for some more iOS app ScopeBoss tests. GC Wi-Fi Adapter ON. 2244 MST: ended ScopeBoss tests; Wi-Fi OFF.

Viewed M1 (Crab Nebula), 102X. Began preparing for DSLR imaging. Mounted the D7200 DSLR at prime focus of the 12" telescope.

2300 MST: while waiting for the Moon to set I viewed M42 (Orion Nebula) using my 7x50 binoculars.

2329 MST: after doing some focus tests using the Astrozap focusing mask and the focus lock bolt, I took this StarLock autoguided image (slightly cropped) of M1 (Crab Nebula), 5 minutes, ISO 4000, White Balance Auto:

Then slewed to M42 (Orion Nebula) and imaged it. This is a StarLock autoguided image of M42, 2 minutes, ISO 2500, WB Auto:

The image is just slightly out-of-focus even though I had used the focus lock bolt. I'm not convinced that the bolt is a good solution to the Focus Lock that Meade did not build into the 12" LX600. But I'll continue to work with it.

0002 MST: ended imaging. Removed the DSLR from the telescope. Viewed M42 (Orion Nebula), 102X. Pretty sight.

Slewed to NGC7662 (Blue Snowball Nebula). Nice sight at 102X. Then viewed NGC2392 (Eskimo Nebula), 102X. Switched to 163X; good view with some details visible.

0026 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Monday, 7 November 2016, 0035 MST Temperature: 57°F

Session Length: 2h 41m Conditions: Mostly clear

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