Open: Tuesday, 26 June 2018, 1908 MST Temperature: 88°F

Session: 1260 Conditions: Clear

Equipment Used:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 9mm 100° eyepiece
1.25" 9mm eyepiece

Camera:
D850 DSLR

1914 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

1918 MST: viewed Venus, 102X.

1920 MST: viewed Jupiter, 102X. Two moons visible against bright blue sky.

1931 MST: three Jovian moons now visible, 102X.

1933 MST: four moons visible, 102X.

Switched to the 2" 9mm 100° eyepiece and began an extended period of Jupiter observing, 271X.

There were some clouds low in the southeastern sky.

1937 MST: the Moon (one day prior to Full) was rising over the hill to the southeast.

1939 MST: sunset.

Continued observing Jupiter, 271X. I planned to image it after the Great Red Spot became visible.

2001 MST: began preparing the D850 DSLR for prime focus imaging of the Moon.

2017 MST: viewed the Moon, 102X. A slight terminator was visible.

2029 MST: mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus of the 12" telescope.

2031 MST: Moon, prime focus, 1/320sec, ISO 100:

Click or tap on image for larger version

2033 MST: Saturn was rising over the hill to the southeast. The clouds were still low in the southeastern sky.

2036 MST: resumed observing Jupiter, 271X.

2138 MST: Kissing Bug #1 was accidently terminated. I had stepped on it.

2140 MST: clouds still low in the southeast.

2200 MST: the Great Red Spot was rotating into view, 271X. Unfortunately, seeing had deteriorated somewhat.

2209 MST: Kissing Bug #2 appeared (Kissing Bugs are 1" long and are bloodsuckers):

Kissing Bug was terminated.

2225 MST: the Great Red Spot was fully into view, 271X. Decided to image Jupiter before the seeing deteriorated further. Mounted the D850 DSLR for eyepiece projection 271X imaging.

2229 MST: Kissing Bug #3 was seen but he got away.

This is a stack of 214 video frames (DX 1080p 120fps 1/125sec ISO 2500):

Slewed to Saturn for this eyepiece projection 271X stack of 51 video frames (DX 1080p 60fps 1/60sec ISO 5000):

Wish the seeing had been better this night. Conditions are expected to worsen over the next several days as a Monsoon storm system approaches.

2255 MST: done imaging.

2258 MST: viewed Saturn at opposition, 271X and 102X. Seeing not very good.

2300 MST: LX600 OFF. Mars was rising over the hill to the southeast.

Close: Tuesday, 26 June 2018, 2312 MST Temperature: 78°F

Session Length: 4h 04m Conditions: Mostly clear

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