Late Thursday afternoon, 23 May 2024, clouds and strong wind arrived. Friday, 24 May, was clear, but windy and hazy.

Open: Friday, 24 May 2024, 1831 MST Temperature: 80°F

Session: 1973 Conditions: Clear, hazy, windy

Equipment:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 30mm eyepiece

Camera:
iPhone 15 Pro Max

SYNCed the observatory clock to WWV time signals.

1842 MST: Relaxed on the observatory patio bench while waiting for the wind to calm down.

I always enjoy relaxing outside of the observatory and watching the local wildlife. As sunset approached I saw two doves necking.

Click to view video

1924 MST: Sunset. Calmer now.

1927 MST: Dome OFF.

1949 MST: Calm now.

1950 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Slewed to Centaurus A (galaxy). It was not yet visible in the bright twilight sky.

1954 MST: Back to the bench while waiting for the sky to get darker.

2009 MST: Back in the observatory.

2012 MST: High Precision ON.

Slewed to Centaurus A (galaxy), but it was still not visible in the twilight sky.

2021 MST: Viewed Centaurus A (galaxy), 102X and 81X.

Attached the LiDAR Cover on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and mounted the iPhone on the 2" 30mm eyepiece using the 3-axis adapter.

2030 MST: StarLock ON.

Took these StarLock autoguided afocal 81X images using the Camera app (Night Mode, 30 seconds, 1X lens).

Centaurus A (Raw format)


M104 Sombrero Galaxy (Raw format)


Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS C/2023 A3 (HEIF format)

The Sombrero Galaxy image is slightly out-of-focus. The challenge when using the Camera app is that there is no manual Infinity focus setting. I will re-image it on the next session.

2104 MST: Southeastern sky brightening from the rising waning gibbous Moon.

2110 MST: Dome ON.

M51 Whirlpool Galaxy (HEIF format)

2117 MST: StarLock OFF.

Viewed M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy), 81X and 102X.

2125 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Friday, 24 May 2024, 2135 MST Temperature: 68°F

Session Length: 3h 04m Conditions: Clear

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