Open: Friday, 27 October 2017, 1816 MST Temperature: 74°F

Session: 1158 Conditions: Clear

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

Camera:
iPhone 8 Plus

1823 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed Saturn 102X.

Viewed the near First Quarter Moon, 102X.

Took this handheld afocal 102X photo of the Moon with the iPhone 8 Plus using the iOS app NightCap Camera (ISO 32, 1/500sec):

Did some lunar observing, 271X. There were some nice sights along the terminator. Mare Imbrium was especially impressive with lots of nice shadows visible. Decided to image Mare Imbrium.

Mounted the iPhone 8 Plus on the 2" 9mm eyepiece using the Levenhuk adapter. This afocal 271X image was taken with NightCap Camera (ISO 25, 1/70sec):

1845 MST: Resumed lunar observing, 271X. Seeing was not great, but there were nice details visible in Mare Imbrium at times. It was fascinating to watch sunrise with shadows getting shorter and mountain peaks lighting up. 1915 MST: ended lunar observing.

Slewed to Epsilon Lyrae (Double-Double Star). Seeing was not very good and I could barely separate the closer component stars using 271X. I would try imaging it anyway. Mounted the iPhone on the 9mm eyepiece. 1924 MST: StarLock ON. I took many exposures using NightCap Camera. This afocal 271X, ISO 64, 1/60sec exposure was the best one. The stars on the right are almost separated, but the stars on the left were blurred together due to the bad seeing.

1929 MST: StarLock OFF. I will try again on the next session using higher magnification.

Slewed to the pretty and colorful double star Albireo. I had better luck imaging it, as seen in this afocal 271X, ISO 64, 1/20sec image:

1938 MST: ended imaging.

Viewed Albireo, 271X and 102X.

1941 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Friday, 27 October 2017, 1951 MST Temperature: 65°F

Session Length: 1h 35m Conditions: Clear

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