Wednesday night, 30 August 2023, as forecasted, there were several thunderstorms in the area. No rain was received here, but there was lightning. The first photo is a single shot; the second photo is a merge of 12 photos taken during a 20-minute period. All photos were f/5.6, 5 seconds, ISO 250, White Balance Auto, FL 24mm, using a MIOPS Smart+ Trigger.

Click or tap on images for larger versions

Thursday night there was a severe thunderstorm to the west of Oracle (no rain here). The top photo is a merge of four photos. The lightning was nearly continuous and mostly in the clouds, as seen in the one minute normal speed video.

Click or tap on image for larger version

Click to view video

Mid-day on Friday, 1 September, a rainshower came through (0.55"). The sky finally cleared on Sunday, 3 September.

Open: Sunday, 3 September 2023, 1822 MST Temperature: 80°F

Session: 1918 Conditions: Mostly clear

Equipment:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 4X Powermate
2" UHC filter

Camera:
iPhone 13 Pro Max
D850 DSLR

1832 MST: Dome Cover OFF.

Prepared the D850 DSLR for imaging. Then relaxed on the observatory patio bench.

1847 MST: Sunset.

1930 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision ON.

Slewed to M16 (Eagle Nebula). It was not yet visible in the twilight sky. Returned to the bench.

1953 MST: Took these iPhone 13 Pro Max photos showing the Summer Triangle and Milky Way high overhead, the Milky Way in the southern sky, and the constellation of Cassiopeia over Cassiopeia Observatory.

1956 MST: Back inside the obervatory. Viewed M16 (Eagle Nebula), 102X. Some nebulosity was faintly visible.

Mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus + UHC filter, focused on the star Altair, locked the 12" primary mirror, and slewed to M16.

2010 MST: StarLock ON.

Did six StarLock autoguided images of M16 (Eagle Nebula), 5 minutes each, ISO 3200. The top image is a single exposure; the bottom image is a stack of all six images for a total exposure of 30 minutes. Both images show the "Pillars of Creation".

2045 MST: StarLock OFF.

Viewed M16 (Eagle Nebula), 102X. Nebulosity was easily seen now.

2106 MST: Viewed Saturn, 102X and 406X. Tweaked a finderscope alignment.

Took this image (full-frame) of Saturn, prime focus + 4X Powermate, 1/2sec, ISO 100.

2122 MST: The eastern sky was brightening from the rising waning gibbous Moon. Viewed Saturn, 406X and 102X.

2129 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Sunday, 3 September 2023, 2145 MST Temperature: 73°F

Session Length: 3h 23m Conditions: Clear

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I have reorganized the Cassiopeia Observatory photo album. Check it out.

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