Open: Friday, 23 June 2023, 1817 MST Temperature: 91°F

Session: 1894 Conditions: Clear

Equipment:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
1.25" 9.7mm eyepiece
Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector

Camera:
iPhone 13 Pro Max
D850 DSLR

1825 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed Venus, 102X and 251X + Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector (ADC).

Mounted the iPhone 13 Pro Max on the 1.25" 9.7mm eyepiece using the Levenhuk adapter. Took this afocal 251X + ADC image of Venus using NightCap Camera (ISO 34, 1/1800sec, 1X lens).

This is a stack of 2506 video frames taken with the iPhone using the Camera app (slo-mo, 240fps, 1X, 10 seconds), afocal 251X + ADC.

1841 MST: Relaxed on the observatory patio bench. This Antelope Squirrel came to visit me while I was relaxing on the bench. Taken with the iPhone Camera app (3X telephoto, 9X digital zoom).

Click to view video

1927 MST: Back inside the observatory. Viewed Venus, 251X + ADC. Then prepared the D850 DSLR for imaging.

1938 MST: Sunset.

Viewed Venus, 251X + ADC and 102X. Viewed the Moon, 102X.

Mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus. Took this image of the Moon (1/250sec, ISO 400).

1950 MST: Relaxed some more on the bench to watch the stars come out.

2021 MST: Back at the 12" telescope. Took this image of Earthshine (2 seconds, ISO 400).

Focused on the star Spica and locked the 12" primary mirror.

2034 MST: High Precision ON.

Slewed to NGC4618 (galaxy) to begin imaging a few more Herschel 400 galaxies.

2037 MST: StarLock ON.

The moonlit and twilight sky was bright when I took the first image, hence the blue sky background. After that, seeing rapidly deteriorated (as it was forecast to due) and guiding was erratic, requiring shorter exposures (as noted).

NGC4618 (galaxy, StarLock autoguided, 5 minutes, ISO 3200)


NGC4631 (galaxy, unguided, 30 seconds, ISO 6400)


NGC4636 (galaxy, StarLock autoguided, 93 seconds, ISO 3200)


NGC4643 (galaxy, StarLock autoguided, 139 seconds, ISO 3200)


NGC4654 (galaxy, StarLock autoguided, 187 seconds, ISO 3200)


NGC4656 (galaxy, StarLock autoguided, 75 seconds, ISO 3200)

2159 MST: StarLock OFF.

2200 MST: Terminated a Kissing Bug that was in the observatory.

I then began viewing some more Herschel 400 galaxies, 102X: NGC4660, NGC4665, NGC4666, NGC4689, NGC4697, NGC4698, and NGC4699. The bright moonlit sky interferred with viewing these faint galaxies, but they were still faintly visible. This was likely my last session observing Herschel 400 objects until after next month's Full Moon.

2221 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Friday, 23 June 2023, 2237 MST Temperature: 70°F

Session Length: 4h 20m Conditions: Clear

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Oracle State Park, our local International Dark Sky Park, has scheduled several star parties over the next twelve months. Check out the list of dates and events.

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