Due to clouds on Thursday, 25 January 2018, and an unfavorable forecast for that night, the last scheduled visit to Cassiopeia Observatory by 4th grade students from Mountain Vista School in Oracle was canceled. It has been tentatively rescheduled for 20 February. My reports on their previous visits are here: 23 January and 24 January.

My webcam captured this bird "transiting" the Sun about sunset on Thursday:

The sky cleared on Friday, 26 January.

Open: Friday, 26 January 2018, 1815 MST Temperature: 66°F

Session: 1190 Conditions: Mostly clear

Equipment Used:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 9mm 100° eyepiece
Binoviewers 20mm eyepieces
Focal Reducer

Camera:
D7200 DSLR

1820 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Took quick looks at the waxing gibbous Moon, 102X and 271X.

Mounted the D7200 DSLR at prime focus + focal reducer. Took this image of the Moon, 1/250sec, ISO 200, White Balance Auto:

Saturation was increased during post-processing to show some color on the Moon.

Removed the camera and did some lunar observing, 271X.

I then took some handheld photographs of the constellation of Orion using the D7200 DSLR and my new Tamron f/2.8 24-70mm G2 lens. This is an f/2.8, 1/4sec, ISO 5000, WB Auto, FL 24mm, exposure:

Resumed lunar observing, 102X. Added one of the Variable Polarizing Filters to the 2" 24mm UWA eyepiece. That made viewing the bright Moon more comfortable. I then added the second filter and dimmed the Moon down. Details on the Moon were more easily seen and the effects of the poor seeing conditions this night were reduced.

1911 MST: I noticed that a portion of the Zodiacal Light was surprisingly visible although the sky was very bright due to the Moon.

Next, I did some lunar observing using Binoviewers, 122X. The views were gorgeous.

1925 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Friday, 26 January 2018, 1933 MST Temperature: 51°F

Session Length: 1h 18m Conditions: Mostly Clear

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