Friday, 10 November 2017, was cloudy. The forecast for Saturday night was cloudy but the sky was mostly clear.

Open: Saturday, 11 November 2017, 1758 MST Temperature: 70°F

Session: 1165 Conditions: Mostly clear

Equipment Used:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
1.25" 26mm eyepiece
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 30mm eyepiece

Camera:
iPhone 8 Plus

1809 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed Saturn, 94X.

1813 MST: Wi-Fi ON. Did some final tests of the soon-to-be-released update of the iOS app ScopeBoss. I will post a review of the new version when the app update is released. 1823 MST: Wi-Fi OFF.

Next, did some more tests of a primary mirror focus lock.

1859 MST: viewed M31 (Andromeda Galaxy), 102X and 81X.

Began setting up to do some Messier Catalog imaging for my new Messier iPhone Astrophotography album. Mounted the iPhone 8 Plus on the 2" 30mm eyepiece using the Levenhuk adapter. 1907 MST: StarLock ON.

Took these afocal 81X, StarLock autoguided galaxy images using the iOS app NightCap Camera (Long Exposure, Light Boost, ISO 8448, 1/3sec, 1 minute exposure). Images converted to black-n-white.

M31 Andromeda Galaxy


M32 Andromeda Galaxy satellite galaxy (lower left, M31 nucleus upper right)


M110 Andromeda Galaxy satellite galaxy


M33 Triangulum Galaxy

Also took this color image of M27 (Dumbbell Nebula, planetary nebula), iPhone 8 Plus, afocal 81X, StarLock autoguided, NightCap Camera (Long Exposure, Light Boost, ISO 8448, 1/3sec, 1 minute exposure):

M27 Dumbbell Nebula

1931 MST: StarLock OFF. Ended imaging.

Viewed M27 (Dumbbell Nebula), 81X. Then viewed M74 and M77 galaxies, 81X. I will image these on a future session using the iPhone 8 Plus. Lastly, viewed M33 (Triangulum Galaxy), 81X and 102X. Spiral arms were nicely visible.

1950 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Saturday, 11 November 2017, 2000 MST Temperature: 62°F

Session Length: 2h 02m Conditions: Mostly clear

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