Open: Monday, 28 May 2018, 1902 MST Temperature: 78°F

Session: 1240 Conditions: Clear

Equipment Used:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 2X PowerMate
1.25" 15mm eyepiece

Camera:
iPhone 8 Plus
D850 DSLR

1908 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed Venus, 102X and 203X. Nice view of the gibbous phase.

Took this handheld iPhone 8 Plus afocal 203X image of Venus with the iPhone 2X lens and the iOS app NightCap Camera (ISO 20, 1/250sec):

I SYNCed the observatory clock to WWV time signals.

1927 MST: sunset.

1931 MST: viewed Jupiter, 102X and 203X. Three moons were visible.

I then set up the D850 DSLR on a tripod on the observatory patio in preparation for photographing the nearly Full Moon on the observatory dome. This is the setup (although the D850 position would change for the actual photo later):

1953 MST: the nearly Full Moon began rising over the hill to the southeast.

1954 MST: saw the first Kissing Bug of the night. He flew away.

1956 MST: viewed the Moon (about 11 hours before precisely full), 102X. The view was through tree limbs but a slight terminator was still visible.

1958 MST: the Kissing Bug made a tactical error and flew back into the observatory. Terminated.

2014 MST: two more Kissing Bugs arrived and were terminated.

2044 MST: began doing the "Moon on Dome" photography. This D850 DSLR photo was taken at f/8, 10 seconds, ISO 1600, FL 24mm:

Click or tap on image for larger version

The constellation of Lyra is visible in the upper right corner. A small image of the Moon from the finderscope is visible just below and right of the large Moon projected on the observatory dome.

I then mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus of the 12" telescope. I wanted to try a test of Full Moon imaging using the camera's "native" ISO 64. This is a 1/250sec exposure:

Click or tap on image for larger version

2115 MST: removed the camera. Viewed the Moon, 102X.

Fourth and last Kissing Bug of the night was terminated.

Viewed Jupiter, 102X and 203X. Four moons were now visible.

Mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus + 2X PowerMate, and did some video recordings, 2160p, 30 fps, DX crop. This is a stack of 214 frames taken at 1/250sec, ISO 1600:

Removed the camera and viewed Jupiter, 325X, 163X, and 102X. The views at 163X and 102X were good.

2137 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Monday, 28 May 2018, 2145 MST Temperature: 68°F

Session Length: 2h 43m Conditions: Clear

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