Monday, 5 June 2023, was cloudy. The sky cleared on Tuesday, 6 June, although there were strong winds blowing. With cloudy nights in the forecasts for the next several nights, I decided to open the observatory to do some visual observing at the very least.

Open: Tuesday, 6 June 2023, 1813 MST Temperature: 86°F

Session: 1882 Conditions: Clear, windy

Equipment:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 5.5mm 100° eyepiece
2" Variable Polarizing Filter

Camera:
iPhone 13 Pro Max
D850 DSLR

1818 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed Venus, 102X and 443X.

I then observed Venus, 443X, using a 2" Variable Polarizing Filter. I had neglected to do the tests on the previous session when I tested some other 2" filters. Here are the results. NOTE: VPF1 means just one filter from the set; VPF2 means the second filter.

VPF1: Nice reduction in the brightness of the planet's disk. This was the best view of all the filters I tested.

I then rotated the eyepiece with the filter attached to see if any polarization of the light from Venus could be detected. Nothing noticed.

Next, I attached VPF2 to the star diagonal. I rotated the eyepiece with VPF1 attached to vary the amount of dimming of the planet's disk. Near maximum polarization provided a good view of shading near the terminator.

I did not do any imaging tests due to the strong winds that were moving the telescope.

1835 MST: Relaxed on the observatory patio bench.

A visitor came to the observatory.

Click to view video

1931 MST: Sunset.

2005 MST: Back inside the observatory. Calm now. Took a last look at Venus, 102X.

2009 MST: High Precision ON.

Slewed to NGC3900 (galaxy) to resume observing objects in the Herschel 400 Catalog. It was not yet visible in the twilight sky. Prepared the D850 DSLR for imaging.

2030 MST: Began Herschel 400 galaxies observing, 102X: NGC3900, NGC3912, NGC3938, NGC3941, NGC3945, NGC3949, NGC3953, NGC3962, NGC3982, NGC3992 (M109), and NGC3998.

Mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus, focused on Regulus, locked the 12" mirror, and slewed to NGC3900.

2107 MST: StarLock ON.

Began imaging NGC3900, but unfortunately seeing was not good and autoguiding was very erratic. I was able to only get this StarLock autoguided 2 minute, ISO 3200, exposure.

Gave up imaging for this session as breezes returned. Unfortunately, cloudy nights are in the forecast for the rest of the week.

2120 MST: StarLock OFF.

Viewed M104 (Sombrero Galaxy), 102X. Viewed Omega Centauri (globular cluster), 102X. Viewed Centaurus A (galaxy), 102X.

2134 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Tuesday, 6 June 2023, 2143 MST Temperature: 69°F

Session Length: 3h 30m Conditions: Clear, breezy

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