Saturday, 20 February 2021, was cloudy at times with a very strong wind blowing. Sunday, 21 February, was clear and the wind was gone as sunset approached.

Open: Sunday, 21 February 2021, 1759 MST Temperature: 68°F

Session: 1599 Conditions: Clear

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

Camera:
iPhone 11 Pro Max
D850 DSLR

1804 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed the waxing gibbous Moon, 102X.

Took this handheld iPhone 11 Pro Max afocal 102X photo of the Moon in the blue sky before sunset using the iOS app NightCap Camera (ISO 32, 1/210sec, 1X lens).

1815 MST: sunset.

Viewed the Moon, 443X.

Mounted the iPhone on the 2" 5.5mm 100° eyepiece using the Levenhuk adapter. Took these iPhone afocal 443X photos using NightCap Camera of the craters Plato (ISO 32, 1/250sec, 1X), Copernicus (ISO 32, 1/120sec, 1X), and Clavius (ISO 32, 1/180sec, 1X).

Did more Moon observing, 443X and 102X.

Slewed to IC418 (Spirograph Nebula, planetary nebula). It was not yet visible in the bright twilight sky.

Prepared the D850 DSLR for imaging.

1836 MST: dome OFF.

1850 MST: IC418 was now faintly visible in the still bright twilight sky, 102X.

Mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus + 2X Powermate + OIII filter, focused on the star Rigel, and locked the 12" primary mirror.

1914 MST: StarLock ON.

Took this StarLock autoguided photo of IC418 (Spirograph Nebula), 10 seconds, ISO 2500, White Balance 4550K. The full-frame image shows the image scale.

This is a cropped version of the above image showing the nebula and some of its structure.

1919 MST: StarLock OFF.

Viewed IC418 (Spirograph Nebula), 203X.

Did a tour along the lunar terminator, 203X. Many nice sights seen.

Took a final look at the Moon, 102X.

1935 MST: LX600 OFF.

1940 MST: dome ON.

Close: Sunday, 21 February 2021, 1945 MST Temperature: 48°F

Session Length: 1h 46m Conditions: Mostly clear

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