Open: Monday, 21 December 2020, 1658 MST Temperature: 76°F

Session: 1577 Conditions: Clear, breezy

Equipment:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 5.5mm 100° eyepiece
2" 30mm eyepiece
2" 4X Powermate

Camera:
D850 DSLR
iPhone 11 Pro Max

1701 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

1703 MST: viewed Jupiter and Saturn, 6' 19" apart, 102X. Switched to the 2" 5.5mm 100° eyepiece (443X). Both planets were in the same field-of-view (FOV) at this high magnification using the wide-field eyepiece. Amazing sight.

1722 MST: sunset.

Mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus + 4X Powermate. Both planets in the same FOV.

1745 MST: viewed the nice "double planet", 12x50 binoculars.

1748 MST: Jupiter (with two moons visible) and Saturn, now separated by 6' 22", prime focus + 4X Powermate, 1/10sec, ISO 1600, full-frame image.

1754 MST: viewed the planets, 443X.

Mounted the iPhone 11 Pro Max on the 2" 5.5mm 100° eyepiece. Took this iPhone afocal 443X image using NightCap Camera (ISO 500, 1/50sec, 1X lens).

More planets observing, 443X, 102X, and 81X.

Mounted the iPhone on the 2" 30mm eyepiece and took afocal 81X photos of the planets and then the Moon. This is a composite showing the separation of the planets compared to the width of the Moon.

1829 MST: view of the western sky with the planets (upper right) over Cassiopeia Observatory taken with the D850 DSLR (f/4, 10 seconds, ISO 1600, FL 70mm).

1840 MST: final look at the close conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, 102X. It was an amazing sight to see. The separation between the planets is now increasing.

1842 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Monday, 21 December 2020, 1847 MST Temperature: 58°F

Session Length: 1h 47m Conditions: Clear

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