Monday, 8 July 2024, dawned clear, but with a continuation of the smoky sky from the two wildfires in Utah. Mid-morning the smoke was gone. Unfortunately, late afternoon smoke from the fires in Utah and a new one in northern Arizona appeared in the northern sky.

Open: Monday, 8 July 2024, 1917 MST Temperature: 95°F

Session: 1994 Conditions: Clear, smoky

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

Camera:
iPhone 15 Pro Max
D850 DSLR

1925 MST: Moved to higher elevation to watch the setting Sun.

1929 MST: This iPhone 15 Pro Max photo (0.5X lens) shows the setting Sun and smoke from wildfires in Utah and northern Arizona.

1934 MST: Setting Sun. Top photo taken with the D850 DSLR (f/8, 1/1250sec, ISO 400, FL 300mm, cropped). Bottom photo taken with the iPhone 15 Pro Max (5X lens) showing the smoky sky.

1937 MST: Sunset.

1940 MST: Back in the observatory. LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed the Moon, 102X.

Prepared the D850 DSLR for imaging. Mounted the D850 camera at the 12" telescope prime focus + focal reducer.

1947 MST: The Moon (1/250sec, ISO 400).

1950-2020 MST: Relaxed on the observatory patio bench and monitored the smoky sky conditions.

2023 MST: The Moon with Earthshine (2 seconds, ISO 400).

Removed the camera and observed the Moon, 102X. Earthshine was nicely visible.

2028 MST: Relaxed on the bench while waiting for the sky to get darker. I continued to monitor the smoky sky conditions.

2050 MST: Leo the Lion (constellation) devouring the Moon. iPhone 15 Pro Max photo, Camera app (Night Mode, 3 seconds, 2X lens, handheld).

2100 MST: Back in the observatory. Smoke was still visible in the sky, but it was not as bad as on the previous night. Viewed the Moon, 102X.

2105 MST: High Precision ON.

Observed (or tried to) the following Barnard Objects (dark nebulae), 102X: B46, B47, B240, B241, B48, B49, B50, B180, B51, B52, B242, B53, B54, B55, B56, and B57. No imaging of the Barnard Objects this session due to the smoky sky conditions.

2143 MST: High Precision OFF.

Viewed M8 (Lagoon Nebula), 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 smartphone adapter.

2153 MST: Took these StarLock autoguided iPhone afocal 81X images using the Camera app (Night Mode, 30 seconds, 1X lens).

M8 Lagoon Nebula


M16 Eagle Nebula with the "Pillars of Creation"


M17 Swan Nebula


M20 Trifid Nebula

2207 MST: StarLock OFF.

Viewed M16 (Eagle Nebula), 81X and 102X. No nebulosity was visible to the eye due to the smoky sky.

2213 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Monday, 8 July 2024, 2224 MST Temperature: 85°F

Session Length: 3h 07m Conditions: Clear, smoky

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