Cassiopeia Observatory - Report - Moon, Earthshine, and Regulus

Moon, Earthshine, and Regulus

Posted: 28 June 2017

Smoke (probably from the Frye Fire near Mt Graham Observatory) returned to our skies on Tuesday, 27 June 2017. Strong winds came up late in the afternoon, but calmed down somewhat as sunset approached.

Open: Tuesday, 27 June 2017, 1923 MST
Temperature: 87°F

Session: 1130
Conditions: Clear, breezy

Equipment Used:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 30mm eyepiece

Camera:
iPhone 6s Plus
D7200 DSLR

1928 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

1930 MST: viewed the Moon, 102X. There was no Regulus occultation here.

1939 MST: sunset. Calm now.

1940 MST: Wi-Fi ON. Did some brief tests of the iOS app ScopeBoss using the iPhone 6s Plus. 1949 MST: Wi-Fi OFF.

1956 MST: viewed the Moon, 81X.

Mounted the iPhone using the Levenhuk adapter. Took this afocal 81X photo of the Moon using the iOS app NightCap Camera (ISO 160, 1/1000sec):

This photo shows the Earthshine that was visible in the eyepiece, afocal 81X, NightCap Camera (ISO 1250, 1/15sec):

2019 MST: final look at the Moon with the 12" telescope, 81X.

Then viewed Jupiter, 81X and 102X. The four Galilean Moons were visible.

Terminated a Kissing Bug. Only one seen this night.

2034 MST: as the sky was now darker, Earthshine and the star Regulus were visible in the sky. This cropped photo, taken with the D7200 DSLR, f/5.6, 1 second, ISO 400, FL 140mm, White Balance Auto, shows the Earthshine, Regulus (to the right of the Moon), and a few other stars:

2038 MST: viewed Saturn, low in the southeast, 102X. Seeing was not very good. Four moons were visible.

2042 MST: LX600 OFF.

Viewed the Moon and Regulus using the Vortex 12x50 binoculars. With the Earthshine, the view was pretty.

Also viewed Jupiter and its Moons and Saturn and its Ring using the 12x50 binoculars.

Close: Tuesday, 27 June 2017, 2056 MST
Temperature: 81°F

Session Length: 1h 33m
Conditions: Clear

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