Thursday, 31 March 2022, was cloudy. Friday, 1 April, was clear, but hazy.

Open: Friday, 1 April 2022, 1824 MST Temperature: 85°F

Session: 1742 Conditions: Clear, hazy

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

Camera:
D850 DSLR

1838-1930 MST: Relaxed on the observatory patio bench to watch the stars come out.

1845 MST: Sunset.

1932 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF.

Viewed the star Sirius, 102X and 174X. Then viewed M42 (Orion Nebula), 174X. The view of the nebula was very nice and six stars in the Trapezium were easily seen.

Prepared the D850 DSLR for imaging.

Viewed the galaxies M65, M66, and NGC3628 (Sarah's Galaxy) in the Leo Triplet of Galaxies, 174X. M65 and M66 were in the same field-of-view. Viewed M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy), 174X. Nice spiral structure visible.

Mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus + UHC filter, focused on the star Regulus, and locked the 12" primary mirror.

2005 MST: StarLock ON.

Took 12 StarLock autoguided images, 5 minutes each, ISO 1600, of NGC3628 (Sarah's Galaxy). Here are unedited, edited (in Adobe Lightroom), and stacked (in Affinity Photo) images.

NGC3628 (Sarah's Galaxy), unedited


NGC3628 (Sarah's Galaxy), edited


NGC3628 (Sarah's Galaxy), stacked one hour exposure

Took 6 StarLock autoguided images, 5 minutes each, ISO 1600, of M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy). Here are unedited, edited (in Adobe Lightroom), and stacked (in Affinity Photo) images.

M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy), unedited


M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy), edited


M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy), stacked 30 minute exposure

2151 MST: StarLock OFF.

Viewed the double star Castor, 174X and 102X.

2204 MST: LX600 OFF.

2215 MST: Took a Sky Quality reading and reported the result to Globe at Night.

Close: Friday, 1 April 2022, 2220 MST Temperature: 59°F

Session Length: 3h 56m Conditions: Clear, SQM 21.07

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