Venus, Moon, Venus & Pleiades

Venus, Moon, Venus & Pleiades

Posted: 5 April 2020

Open: Saturday, 4 April 2020, 1802 MST
Temperature: 83°F

Session: 1452
Conditions: Clear, breezy

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

Camera:
iPhone 11 Pro Max
D850 DSLR

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

1812 MST: viewed Venus, 102X and 271X.

Mounted the iPhone 11 Pro Max on the 2" 9mm eyepiece using the Levenhuk adapter.

Did a 10 seconds slo-mo (240fps) video recording of Venus using the iOS Camera app, afocal 271X, 2X lens. Stacked 2495 video frames using Lynkeos with this result.

Removed the iPhone. Viewed the waxing gibbous Moon, 81X.

Mounted the iPhone 11 Pro Max on the 30mm eyepiece using the Levenhuk adapter. Used the iOS app NightCap Camera for this photo (ISO 32, 1/2500sec, 1X lens).

Next, I set up the D850 DSLR for sky astrophotography. The D850 was mounted on a monoPOD that was inserted into a hole at the top of the SkyShed POD wall. This is a quick and effective way to quickly set up for sky astrophotography.

1848 MST: sunset. Saw the "green flash" with the naked eye.

Did some lunar observing, 271X. Seeing was not very good.

Mounted the iPhone on the 2" 9mm eyepiece. Took the following photos of the Moon using NightCap Camera (ISO 32, 1/300sec and 1/120sec, 1X lens).

1917 MST: viewed Venus, 102X. Then viewed Venus and the Pleiades, 12x50 binoculars. Nice view.

1940 MST: set up for western sky astrophotography. Mounted the D850 DSLR on the monoPOD. Took these photos.

Hyades (upper left), Venus & Pleiades
(f/3.5, 2 seconds, ISO 3200, White Balance 5560K, FL 70mm)

Orion (left), Hyades (near center), Venus & Pleiades (right)
(f/3.5, 10 seconds, ISO 4000, White Balance 5560K, FL 36mm)

1957 MST: final look at Venus, 102X.

1959 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Saturday, 4 April 2020, 2007 MST
Temperature: 63°F

Session Length: 2h 05m
Conditions: Clear, breezy

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