Sunday, 28 March 2021, was clear but windy (again) during the day. The wind calmed down late afternoon.

Open: Sunday, 28 March 2021, 1811 MST Temperature: 83°F

Session: 1616 Conditions: Clear

Equipment:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 50mm eyepiece
StarPro AZ 102mm
1.25" 26mm eyepiece
1.25" 9mm eyepiece
1.25" 6.3mm eyepiece

Camera:
iPhone 11 Pro Max

I set up the Meade StarPro AZ 102mm refractor on the observatory patio.

I then relaxed on the patio bench.

1844 MST: sunset.

1853 MST: back inside the observatory.

1854 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Slewed to M52 (open star cluster), which is near Nova V1405 Cas. No stars were visible yet in the bright twilight sky. I continued to monitor the eyepiece view while waiting for the sky to get darker. The view was hampered by the low altitude of the nova and M52 and tree branches.

1910 MST: stars began becoming visible, 102X. Nova V1405 Cas was easily seen.

1915 MST: took this handheld iPhone 11 Pro Max photo of Nova V1405 Cas, afocal 102X, using NightCap Camera (ISO 5000, 1/4sec, 1X lens).

Mouseover or tap on image for pointer

1918 MST: M52 was becoming visible, 102X.

1922 MST: the eastern sky was brightening from the rising just past full Moon.

Viewed nova and M52, 49X.

1939 MST: took this handheld iPhone 11 Pro Max photo of Nova V1405 Cas and M52 cluster, afocal 49X, using the Camera app (Night Mode, 3 seconds, 1X lens).

Mouseover or tap on image for pointer

1949 MST: the Moon was rising over the hill to the east. Viewed the Moon, 49X.

1951 MST: took this handheld iPhone 11 Pro Max photo of the rising Moon, afocal 49X, using NightCap Camera (Light Boost, ISO 32, 1/7700sec, 1X lens).

Viewed the Moon, 102X. A slight terminator was visible.

I then projected the Moon on the observatory dome using the 2" 50mm (49X) eyepiece. Took this handheld iPhone 11 Pro Max photo of the Moon on the dome using the Camera app (Night Mode, 10 seconds, 1X lens).

2004 MST: moved to the StarPro refractor and viewed the Moon, 25X, through tree branches. Then viewed M42 (Orion Nebula), 25X. The Trapezium star cluster was nicely visible along with some nebulosity.

2009 MST: LX600 OFF.

Mounted the iPhone 11 Pro Max on the 26mm eyepiece using the Meade Smartphone Adapter that was included with the StarPro and took this iPhone photo of M42, afocal 25X, using the Camera app (Night Mode, 5 seconds, 1X lens).

Slewed back to the Moon and this iPhone afocal 25X photo using NightCap Camera (ISO 32, 1/400sec, 1X lens).

I then viewed the Moon through the 102mm refractor, 73X and 105X. Took this handheld iPhone afocal 105X photo, NightCap Camera (ISO 32, 1/100sec, 1X lens).

2028 MST: last look at the Moon, 25X.

Close: Sunday, 28 March 2021, 2038 MST Temperature: 61°F

Session Length: 2h 27m Conditions: Clear

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