1805 MST: Shortly after sunset on Friday, 11 October 2024, I went outside to look for Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3). At 1837 MST I spotted the comet's head low in the western sky using 7x50 binoculars. No tail was visible. I never saw it with the naked eye. Here are some photos. My iPhone 15 Pro Max photo might be the first smartphone photo of the comet during its evening apparition. A short tail is visible in the photos.

1839 MST: D850 DSLR (f/5.6, 1.3 second, ISO 800, FL 300mm)


1839 MST: Magnified version of above image


1840 MST: D850 DSLR (f/5.6, 1 second, ISO 800, FL 300mm)


1841 MST: D850 DSLR (f/5, 1 second, ISO 800, FL 185mm)

1846 MST: iPhone 15 Pro Max (Night Mode, 3 seconds, 1X lens)

Click or tap on image for larger version

1848 MST: D850 DSLR (f/5.6, 4 seconds, ISO 800, FL 300mm)

The comet should be more visible in the coming evenings. After the comet set at 1853 MST I went to the observatory.

Open: Friday, 11 October 2024, 1909 MST Temperature: 75°F

Session: 2018 Conditions: Clear

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

Camera:
iPhone 15 Pro Max

1915 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed the Moon, 102X.

Took this handheld iPhone 15 Pro Max afocal 102X image of the Moon using the Camera app (1X lens).

1926 MST: Moon on Dome with the constellation of Cassiopeia looking down on Cassiopeia Observatory. Taken with the iPhone (Night Mode, 3 seconds, 1X lens)

Mouseover or tap on image to see the "W" (as in "Weasner")

1932 MST: Relaxed on the observatory patio bench while monitoring geomagnetic storm conditions and any Aurora Borealis sightings.

1952 MST: Back in the observatory. No Aurora sightings.

Viewed Saturn, 102X.

1954 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Friday, 11 October 2024, 2002 MST Temperature: 73°F

Session Length: 0h 53m Conditions: Clear

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I created an Aurora Borealis Photography Album since we have had several nights of Northern Lights being visible from southern Arizona.

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