As forecast, Thursday, 6 June 2024, and Friday, 7 June, were cloudy. Saturday, 8 June, was partly cloudy. That night I attended a Star Party at Oracle State Park.

Sunday, 9 June, was cloudy. Monday, 10 June, was mostly clear during the day.

Open: Monday, 10 June 2024, 1814 MST Temperature: 84°F

Session: 1982 Conditions: Mostly clear

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

Camera:
iPhone 15 Pro Max
D850 DSLR

SYNCed observatory clock to WWV time signals.

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

Viewed the Moon, 102X and 81X.

Mounted the iPhone 15 Pro Max on the 30mm eyepiece using the 3-axis adapter. Did some imaging of the Moon in case clouds interferred later. Also, prepared the D850 DSLR for imaging later.

1842 MST: Relaxed on the observatory patio bench.

1934 MST: Sunset.

2000 MST: Back in the observatory.

Attached the LiDAR Cover on the iPhone and mounted the iPhone on the 30mm eyepiece. Took these afocal 81X images of the Moon using NightCap Camera (ISO 55, 1/350sec, 1X lens) and the Camera app (1X lens), respectively.

Viewed the Moon and Earthshine, 81X.

2013 MST: High Precision ON.

Viewed M87 (galaxy), 81X.

2018 MST: Saw the first of four Kissing Bugs during this session. I terminated three of them during the session.

2022 MST: Dome OFF.

2024 MST: Returned to the bench while waiting for the sky to get darker.

2045 MST: Back in the observatory. Attached the LiDAR Cover and mounted the iPhone on the 30mm eyepiece.

2050 MST: StarLock ON.

Took this StarLock autoguided afocal 81X image of M87 (galaxy) using the Camera app (Night Mode, 30 seconds, 1X lens).

2055 MST: StarLock OFF.

Viewed M87 (galaxy), 81X.

Mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus, focused on the star Spica, and locked the telescope mirror. Slewed to NGC3524 to image it and Supernova 2024inv.

2107 MST: Dome ON.

2109 MST: StarLock ON.

Took this StarLock autoguided image of NGC3524 (galaxy) and Supernova 2024inv, prime focus, 2 minutes, ISO 3200.

Mouseover or tap on image for pointer

I tried to image NGC3621 and Supernova 2024ggi, but it was now too low in the southwestern sky. I had previously imaged the supernova in April 2024.

Next, mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus + focal reducer, focused on Spica, locked the mirror, and slewed to Asteroid (819) Barnardiana, Mag. +14.4, named for E.E. Barnard.

2150 MST and 2250 MST: Took StarLock autoguided images of Asteroid (819) Barnardiana, prime focus + focal reducer, 5 minutes, ISO 4000. I relaxed on the bench in between the exposures.

2301 MST: Began imaging Barnard Objects (dark nebulae), StarLock autoguided, 2 minutes (except B230, which was 1 minute, no autoguiding), ISO 3200. The moonlit sky hampered imaging.

2359 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Tuesday, 11 June 2024, 0014 MST Temperature: 72°F

Session Length: 5h 56m Conditions: Clear

---

Comments are welcome using Email. Please read the Email Etiquette guidance.

---

Previous report

Cassiopeia Observatory Home Page