Thursday, 30 April 2020, was cloudy, just like it was on 30 April 2005 for my 3rd visit to Oracle Observatory 15 years ago. Friday, 1 May, was clear but too windy. Saturday, 2 May, was clear with still some wind, but as it was less strong I decided to do some stuff in the observatory.

Open: Saturday, 2 May 2020, 1758 MST Temperature: 95°F

Session: 1467 Conditions: Clear, windy

Equipment:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
1.25" 15mm eyepiece
ETX-90AT
1.25" 26mm eyepiece

Camera:
D850 DSLR
iPhone 11 Pro Max

I set up my Meade ETX-90AT on the observatory patio to do some ETX accessory tests for an upcoming review. The ETX-90 was mounted in Polar Mode and approximately aligned.

With the Moon high in the sky before sunset I mounted the D850 DSLR at the eyepiece port of the ETX-90. I powered ON the ETX but did not do a star alignment as I would not need pointing accuracy for the tests I planned to do. Took this D850 DSLR prime focus photo of the waxing gibbous Moon (1/250sec, ISO 1250).

1903 MST: completed tests with the ETX-90.

1910 MST: sunset.

1911 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed Venus, 102X and 163X. Seeing was not good (still very breezy).

Viewed the Moon, 102X. Did some tests of the iOS app Moon Atlas. My review will be posted soon.

Took this handheld iPhone 11 Pro Max afocal 102X photo of the Moon using the iOS app NightCap Camera (1/710sec, ISO 32, 1X lens).

Did some lunar observing, 163X.

Took these handheld iPhone 11 Pro Max afocal 163X photos of the Moon using the iOS app NightCap Camera (1/120sec and 1/710sec, ISO 32, 1X lens).

1956 MST: last look at the Moon, 102X.

1959 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Saturday, 2 May 2020, 2010 MST Temperature: 77°F

Session Length: 2h 12m Conditions: Clear, breezy

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