Open: Monday, 18 May 2020, 1827 MST Temperature: 90°F

Session: 1479 Conditions: Clear, breezy

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

Camera:
iPhone 11 Pro Max

1832 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed the planet Venus, 102X and 542X.

Mounted the iPhone 11 Pro Max on the 9mm eyepiece using the Levenhuk adapter. This is a stack of 2495 video frames taken with the Camera iOS app in slo-mo mode (240fps), afocal 542X.

I then began relaxing on the observatory patio bench while waiting for sunset.

1920 MST: sunset.

1921 MST: viewed Venus, 542X. Then viewed the planet Mercury, 542X, low in the western sky.

With the iPhone mounted on the eyepiece, this is a stack of 2508 video frames taken with the Camera iOS app in slo-mo mode (240fps), afocal 542X.

1932 MST: viewed Mercury, then Venus, 102X.

Relaxed on the bench waiting for darkness.

1942 MST: the breezes finally calmed down.

2020 MST: this was the scene from the bench looking towards the northeast, taken with the Camera app (Night Mode, 3 seconds, 1X lens, handheld).

And the view to the east, taken with the Camera app (Night Mode, 10 seconds, 1X lens, handheld). The constellations of Boötes and Hercules are visible.

Mouseover or tap on image for labels

2030 MST: back in the observatory to begin some observing. I first did the AutoStar Tour "Tonight's Best", 102X: NGC3115 (Spindle Galaxy), NGC3377 (galaxy), NGC4261 (galaxy), M68 (globular cluster), Centaurus A (galaxy), M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy), M13 (Great Globular Cluster in Hercules), M92 (globular cluster), and M57 (Ring Nebula). I also viewed M65/M66/NGC3628 (Leo Triplet of Galaxies), M64 (Black Eye Galaxy), M61 (galaxy), M104 (Sombrero Galaxy), M87 (galaxy), and Omega Centauri (globular cluster), 102X. It was fun just spending time observing Deep Sky Objects.

2115 MST: sighted Omega Centauri (globular cluster) very low in the southern sky, naked eye. Then used 12x50 binoculars to view it.

Next, viewed M4 (globular cluster) and M10 (globular cluster), 102X.

2124 MST: LX600 OFF.

2132 MST: took a Sky Quality reading. Reported the results to Globe at Night.

Close: Monday, 18 May 2020, 2136 MST Temperature: 72°F

Session Length: 3h 09m Conditions: Clear, SQM 21.21

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