Open: Sunday, 27 September 2020, 2042 MST Temperature: 76°F

Session: 1524 Conditions: Clear

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

Camera:
iPhone 11 Pro Max

2048 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed Jupiter and the four Galilean Moons, 102X. Then viewed Saturn and three moons, 102X.

Viewed the waxing gibbous Moon, 102X.

Took this handheld iPhone 11 Pro Max photo of the Moon, afocal 102X, NightCap Camera (ISO 32, 1/1250sec, 1X lens).

Did some lunar observing, 271X.

Viewed Jupiter, 271X.

Mounted the iPhone on the 2" 9mm eyepiece using the Levenhuk adapter. Used the Camera app (slo-mo, 240fps, 10 seconds, 1X lens) for these afocal 271X images (stacks of 2500 video frames).

Removed the phone and adapter. Viewed Saturn, 271X. Nice view.

Then I did a dumb thing. My jacket got caught on the wedge. I thought I checked the large base mounting knob but I inadvertently rotated the Latitude adjustment knob. Argh. Will do a StarLock auto drift align on a future session to correct the Latitude position of the wedge.

2116 MST: viewed Mars, 271X. Seeing was not good in the eastern sky.

Slewed to Altair and made a slight Latitude adjustment on the wedge. Did a GOTO Saturn, which was good. Will still need to do a drift align on a future session.

2136 MST: viewed Mars again, 102X and 271X. Seeing was a little better. A cloud over the North Polar Cap was visible, as was the South Polar Cap and some dark areas.

2146 MST: seeing was pretty good now. Mounted the iPhone on the 9mm eyepiece. This is a stack of 2500 video frames (slo-mo, 240fps, 10 seconds, 1X lens), afocal 271X. North is up. The cloud over the North Polar Cap is visible. There might be a cloud along the limb on the right side.

2152 MST: ended imaging.

Took a final look at Mars, 271X and 102X.

2157 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Sunday, 27 September 2020, 2208 MST Temperature: 73°F

Session Length: 1h 26m Conditions: Clear

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