Open: Sunday, 30 May 2021, 1837 MST Temperature: 87°F

Session: 1643 Conditions: Mostly clear, breezy

Equipment:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 30mm eyepiece
2" UHC filter

Camera:
iPhone 11 Pro Max
D850 DSLR

After opening the observatory I relaxed on the patio bench.

1920 MST: back inside the observatory.

1921 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

1923 MST: viewed Venus, 102X.

1928 MST: sunset. Calm now.

1939 MST: tried to observe Mercury, but it was into the trees before it became visible.

Returned to the bench to watch the stars come out. Strong breezes returned.

1955 MST: Kissing Bug #1 terminated.

1958 MST: Kissing Bug #2 terminated.

2030 MST: back inside the observatory. Calm now.

Viewed Omega Centauri (globular cluster), 102X and 81X.

2037 MST: viewed Omega Centauri, 12x50 binoculars.

Mounted the iPhone 11 Pro Max on the 2" 30mm eyepiece using the Levenhuk adapter.

2044 MST: StarLock ON.

Took this StarLock autoguided iPhone afocal 81X photo of Omega Centauri using the iOS Camera app (Night Mode, 30 seconds, 1X lens).

2152 MST: Kissing Bug #3 terminated.

Viewed M83 (Southern Pinwheel Galaxy), 81X. Then mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus + UHC filter, focused on Spica, locked the 12" mirror, and slewed back M83.

Took several StarLock autoguided, 5 minutes, ISO 12800, White Balance 5560K images of M83. This is a stack of the best four images, effective exposure 20 minutes, using Lynkeos.

2150 MST: StarLock OFF.

2152 MST: Kissing Bug #4 terminated.

Strong breezes returned.

2200 MST: LX600 OFF.

2211 MST: took a Sky Quality reading.

Close: Sunday, 30 May 2021, 2214 MST Temperature: 73°F

Session Length: 3h 37m Conditions: Clear, breezy, SQM 21.16

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