Saturday, 17 February 2024, began with a clear sky, but clouds came in mid-afternoon. Sunday, 18 February, was mostly clear.

Open: Sunday, 18 February 2024, 1750 MST Temperature: 78°F

Session: 1941 Conditions: Mostly clear

Equipment:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 14mm 100° eyepiece
1.25" 26mm Occulting Bar eyepiece
2" 4X Powermate

Camera:
iPhone 15 Pro Max

1754 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed the Moon, 102X.

1800-1812 MST: Relaxed on the observatory patio bench.

Took this iPhone photo of the observatory while relaxing on the bench, Camera app (0.5X lens). The Moon was high overhead.

1812 MST: Sunset.

1813 MST: Handheld iPhone afocal 102X image of the Moon taken with the Camera app (1X lens).

1814-1824 MST: Relaxed on the bench.

Then did some lunar observing, 174X.

Took these handheld iPhone afocal 174X images of the Moon with NightCap Camera (ISO 55, 1/570sec and 1/710sec, respectively, 1X lens).

Viewed Jupiter and the four Galilean Moons, 174X. Took handheld iPhone afocal 174X images of Jupiter using NightCap Camera and merged two images together to show both the planet (not overexposed) and the moons.

Did some more tests of my homemade Occulting Bar eyepiece. I hope to report on the results soon.

Viewed the Trapezium stars in M42 (Orion Nebula), 174X. Then viewed M42, 102X. Some nebulosity was visible at both magnifications in the bright moonlit sky.

1908 MST: Cassiopeia Observatory, taken with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, handheld, Camera app (Night Mode, 3 seconds, 1X lens).

1912-1918 MST: Relaxed on the bench.

191640 MST: Saw a bright meteor in Canis Major, moving southeast.

1920 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Sunday, 18 February 2024, 1927 MST Temperature: 57°F

Session Length: 1h 37m Conditions: Mostly clear

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