Wednesday, 2 March 2022, dawned clear, but clouds began appearing mid-day. Thursday afternoon, 3 March, with rain appearing in the forecasts, I put the Dome Cover ON. Windy and cloudy nights continued until Saturday, 5 March, although there was no rain. It was windy on Saturday as sunset approached, and since I was expecting visitors to the observatory that night, I removed the Dome Cover and opened the observatory.

Open: Saturday, 5 March 2022, 1749 MST Temperature: 67°F

Session: 1728 Conditions: Clear, windy

Equipment:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 14mm 100° eyepiece

Camera:
iPhone 13 Pro Max

1801 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed the Moon, 102X.

I then relaxed on the observatory patio bench for awhile.

Took this iPhone 13 Pro Max photograph of the thin crescent Moon over the observatory dome.

1824 MST: Sunset.

1830 MST: Took this handheld iPhone afocal 102X photo of the Moon using the iOS app NightCap Camera (ISO 34, 1/640sec, 1X lens).

Viewed the Moon, 174X. Nice sights.

Took these handheld iPhone afocal 174X photos of the Moon using NightCap Camera (ISO 34, various shutter speeds, 1X lens).

1901 MST: viewed Earthshine on the Moon, 102X.

1904 MST: Handheld iPhone photo of the Moon with Earthshine and the observatory.

Earthshine, iPhone afocal 102X, taken with NightCap Camera (ISO 400, 1/2sec, 1X lens).

1914 MST: Wind had calmed down.

1937 MST: Visitors arrived.

After getting a brief introduction about Cassiopeia Observatory, they viewed the Moon, 102X and 174X. Then unforecasted clouds began quickly moving in from the southwest. The visitors viewed the Great Nebula in Orion (M42), 102X. Unfortunately, the view was hampered by clouds. As clouds continued to move rapidly northward, I slewed the telescope to Bode's Galaxy (M81) and Cigar Galaxy (M82). Unfortunately, the clouds got there first. The visitors were able to see the galaxies through the clouds at times, 102X, but the view was not very good. We decided to call it a night due to the clouds.

2036 MST: Visitors left. I am glad they were able to visit and experience the dark sky at Cassiopeia Observatory.

2040 MST: LX600 OFF.

2050 MST: Took this handheld iPhone photo of the Moon behind clouds and the observatory.

Close: Saturday, 5 March 2022, 2054 MST Temperature: 49°F

Session Length: 3h 05m Conditions: Mostly cloudy

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I have updated my review of the Explore Scientific 7-n-1 Professional Weather Station.

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