As the temperature inside the observatory yesterday was 100°F when I opened up, I have started up the air conditioner for the first time since the end of last summer. However, the air conditioner is no longer cooling as well as it did when installed in 2017. I will begin looking for a suitable replacement.

Open: Sunday, 26 April 2020, 1806 MST Temperature: 98°F

Session: 1463 Conditions: Clear

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

Camera:
iPhone 11 Pro Max
D850 DSLR

1816 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed the planet Venus, 102X.

Took this handheld iPhone 11 Pro Max afocal 102X image of Venus using NightCap Camera (ISO 21, 1/8000sec, 2X lens).

1822 MST: viewed the Moon, 102X.

1825 MST: began relaxing on the observatory patio.

1855 MST: there were clouds along the horizon from the west-northwest to the northeast. They were not yet high in the sky.

1857 MST: returned to the observatory.

1902 MST: viewed the Moon and then Venus, 12x50 binoculars. The crescent phase of Venus was easily seen in the binoculars.

1906 MST: sunset. I began doing Earthshine observations for the Earthshine Visibility Project. 1924 MST: ended my observations. I reported the results.

Viewed the Moon, 102X. Earthshine was nicely visible. Took this handheld afocal 102X iPhone image of the Moon using NightCap Camera (ISO 400, 1/2500sec, 1X lens).

1945 MST: took this handheld D850 DSLR photo of the western sky (f4.5, 1/4sec, ISO 3200, FL 70mm, slight crop).

1947 MST: last look at the Moon, 102X.

1956 MST: dome OFF.

Mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus of the 12" telescope to image NEO Asteroid (52768) OR2, Mag. +11.2.

2017 MST: Wi-Fi ON.

Used SkySafari 6 Pro on the iPhone to GOTO the location of the asteroid.

2019 MST: StarLock ON.

Seeing was not very good this night and autoguiding was erratic. I managed to get 3 images of the asteroid, 30 seconds exposure, ISO 6400, White Balance 5560K, at 1 minute intervals.

This image shows the movement.

2032 MST: Wi-Fi OFF.

Slewed to NGC3628 (Sarah's Galaxy) and began imaging it. Poor seeing complicated getting images. This is a stack of 5 images (each 2 minutes, ISO 5000, WB 5560K).

2055 MST: StarLock OFF.

Removed the camera and viewed Sarah's Galaxy, 102X.

2104 MST: LX600 OFF.

2108 MST: dome ON.

Close: Sunday, 26 April 2020, 2117 MST Temperature: 72°F

Session Length: 3h 11m Conditions: Mostly clear

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