Saturday, 19 June 2021, was mostly clear and windy at times, but the sky was very hazy from smoke due to several wildfires. The Telegraph Fire (about 70 miles north) was at 177,295 acres burned (67% contained). The new Pinnacle Fire (about 70 miles east) was at 27,807 acres burned (15% contained). I had planned to open the observatory, but clouds and haze increased as sunset approached. Sunday, 20 June, was clear, hazy, and windy. The Telegraph Fire had further increased to 180,566 acres burned (67% contained). The Pinnacle Fire increased to 31,715 acres burned (25% contained). For those who may be wondering, I get this official wildfire information from InciWeb - Incident Information System. This map shows all the wildfires currently active in Arizona.

The wind began decreasing late Sunday afternoon so I opened the observatory.

Open: Sunday, 20 June 2021, 1845 MST Temperature: 95°F

Session: 1649 Conditions: Clear, hazy, breezy

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

Camera:
D850 DSLR

Relaxed on the bench for awhile.

1910 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed the planet Venus, 102X and 406X. The gibbous phase was very obvious.

1925 MST: Mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus + 4X Powermate. Took some images of Venus. Seeing was not very steady. This image (1/1000sec, ISO 400, cropped) was the best.

1938 MST: sunset.

Did some lunar observing, 102X, 203X, and 406X. Many nice sights.

Mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus. Took this image of the waxing gibbous Moon (1/320sec, ISO 400). Note the similar gibbous phase to the gibbous phase of the planet Venus.

Added the 2X Powermate and took these images (1/400sec, ISO 1600).

Removed the 2X Powermate and added the 4X Powermate for these images (1/250sec, 1/320sec, and 1/400sec, respectively, ISO 4000).

2016 MST: ended imaging. Still breezy.

Took a final look at the Moon, 102X.

2028 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Sunday, 20 June 2021, 2035 MST Temperature: 87°F

Session Length: 1h 50m Conditions: Clear, hazy, breezy

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