Wednesday morning, 28 June 2017, I added a "backer rod" in the observatory to help with cooling provided by the new air conditioner. See my SkyShed POD Air Conditioner Installation report for an update discussing the backer rod.

Smokey skies from the Frye Fire near Mt Graham Observatory occurred again on Wednesday in Oracle, as did strong winds. Here is another update on the observatory following the Frye Fire near approach.

Open: Wednesday, 28 June 2017, 1900 MST Temperature: 89°F

Session: 1131 Conditions: Clear, breezy

Equipment Used:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 50mm eyepiece
2" 9mm 100° eyepiece

Camera:
iPhone 6s Plus

1907 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

1909 MST: viewed the Moon, 102X. The crater Humboldt was nicely visible due to the Moon's libration. Thanks to Sky & Telescope for the article about this good libration.

1913 MST: Wi-Fi ON. Did some tests of the iOS app ScopeBoss for the developer. 1930 MST: Wi-Fi OFF.

1939 MST: sunset. The breezes had calmed down now.

1941 MST: viewed Jupiter, 102X. Four moons visible.

Returned to the Moon. Switched to the 2" 50mm eyepiece, attached the iPhone 6s Plus, and used the iOS app NightCap Camera (ISO 25, 1/200sec) for this afocal 49X image of the Moon:

Then did some lunar observing, 271X. The view of crater Humboldt was good. The central peaks and the small crater in the interior of Humboldt were visible.

Mounted the iPhone on the 2" 9mm eyepiece for this afocal 271X image using NightCap Camera (ISO 25, 1/125sec) showing crater Humboldt at the right and crater Petavius at the center:

Mouseover or tap on image for labels

2018 MST: last look at the Moon, 102X. Then viewed Jupiter, 102X. Seeing was not good now.

2023 MST: viewed Saturn, low in the southeast, 102X. Four moons visible even with the poor seeing.

2033 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Wednesday, 28 June 2017, 2042 MST Temperature: 83°F

Session Length: 1h 42m Conditions: Clear

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