Open: Sunday, 2 July 2023, 1757 MST Temperature: 91°F

Session: 1902 Conditions: Clear

Equipment:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 30mm eyepiece
Solar filter
2" 4X Powermate
Focal reducer

Camera:
D850 DSLR
iPhone 13 Pro Max

I opened the observatory a little earlier than normal to photograph the Sun with sunspot AR3354. AR3354 had popped off several X-class flares late in the afternoon.

When I entered the observatory I saw that the air conditioning hot air duct repair that I had done the previous day was still working. Whew!

1803 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Attached the full aperture Thousand Oaks Optical Solar Filter to the 12" telescope. Viewed the Sun with several sunspots, 102X. Sunspot AR3354 near the limb was especially nice.

Mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus. Imaged the Sun at 1/1250sec, ISO 400.

Click or tap on image for larger version

This is a zoomed-in version of the same image showing AR3354.

Then viewed the Sun, 102X and 81X. Mounted the iPhone 13 Pro Max on the 30mm eyepiece for this afocal 81X image of the Sun taken with NightCap Camera (ISO 34, 1/1400sec, 1X lens).

Next, I viewed the crescent Venus, 81X and 102X.

1838 MST: Relaxed on the observatory patio bench. Some breezes came up.

1900 MST: Back inside the observatory. Viewed Venus, 102X and 406X.

Mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus + 4X Powermate. Took this 1/500sec, ISO 400, image of Venus.

This is a stack of 1845 1080p 60fps video frames, 1/640sec, ISO 1000.

1916 MST: Back to relaxing on the bench while waiting for the Sun to set. Calm now.

1938 MST: Sunset.

2000 MST: Back inside the observatory. Viewed Venus, 406X and 102X.

Slewed the 12" telescope to the near Full Moon, which was still behind the hill to the southeast.

2005 MST: Relaxed on the bench while waiting for the Moon to appear.

2019 MST: Summer Triangle rising, taken with the iPhone 13 Pro Max using the Camera app (0.5X lens).

Mouseover or tap on image

2020 MST: The southeastern sky was brightening from the rising Moon.

2029 MST: Moon rising over the hill.

2030 MST: Back inside the observatory. Viewed the near Full Moon, 102X. A very slight terminator was visible.

Mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus + focal reducer.

2039 MST: The Moon taken at 1/250sec, ISO 100.

Took a last look at the Moon, 102X.

2048 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Sunday, 2 July 2023, 2058 MST Temperature: 83°F

Session Length: 3h 01m Conditions: Clear

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