Cassiopeia Observatory

Links

Updated: 7 April 2026

Selected Cassiopeia Observatory Reports
Sky
Southern Arizona Aurora Borealis! (Jan 2026)
Southern Arizona Aurora! (Nov 2025)
Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) in Arizona! (Oct 2024)
Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) in Arizona! (May 2024)
SpaceX Starlink satellites (Nov 2019)
SpaceX Starlink satellites (May 2019)
Sun
Total Solar Eclipse - 8 April 2024
Partial Solar Eclipse - 14 October 2023
Total Solar Eclipse - 21 August 2017
ISS-Sun Transit
Partial Solar Eclipse - 23 October 2014
Solar Eclipse - 20 May 2012
Moon
Occultation of Spica (Jul 2024)
New Personal Record: 13h48m Moon
ISS-Moon Transit
18 Hour Old Moon
50 Yr Old Edmund 3" Scope, iPhone, & Total Lunar Eclipse
Planets
Jupiter-Venus Conjunction (Aug 2025)
8 Planets Night (Feb 2025)
Venus-Jupiter Daytime Conjunction 26' 01"
Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction 6' 22"
Jupiter-Saturn Daytime Conjunction 6' 09"
Transit of Mercury (2019)
Transit of Mercury (2016)
Callisto Occults/Eclipses Europa
Jupiter Moons Io-Ganymede Occultation and Eclipse
Occultation of Venus
Transit of Venus
Comets
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS (Dec 2025)
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) (Oct 2024)
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) (Oct 2024)
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) (Oct 2024)
Comet NEOWISE (Jul 2020)
Comet NEOWISE (Jul 2020)
Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) (Jan 2015)
Comet C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) (Mar 2013)
Deep Sky Objects
Einstein Cross?, Gegenschein
Observing Stars in Andromeda Galaxy with 12" Telescope
Einstein Cross with 8" Telescope and DSLR
G1 and G2 Globular Clusters in M31 Andromeda Galaxy
NGC206, G76, C107 in M31 Andromeda Galaxy
Quasar 3C273, HST-Moon Transit, (and more)
Other
iPhone Astrophotography Sirius B (Pup Star) (2026)
David H. Levy Arizona Dark Sky Star Party II & Oracle Dark Sky Cultural Festival (2022)
Bighorn Fire reports 2020 (Jun-Jul 2020)
IU Asteroid Program, Asteroid Delores (Owings)
First David H. Levy Arizona Dark Sky Star Party (2019)
Meade 12" LX600 Checkout and First Light!
Final Session with Meade 8" LX200-ACF Telescope
IDA Dark Sky Defender Award 2015
Kitt Peak and Cassiopeia Observatories
First Light!!!

Tips
Meade 2" Diagonal Repair
Adding the "Sun as Asteroid"
Satellite Tracking
Simple LX200-ACF Counterweight
Homemade Eyepiece Tray
Finderscope Crosshair Replacement
Solar Filter Mask/Holder

Astrophotography Tips
DSI Principles for Responsible Astrophotography
D850 DSLR ISO Tests
iPhone Afocal Photography LiDAR Issue
Sky and DSO White Balance Tests
"Beginner Digital Astrophotography" slides (web version)
"Beginner Digital Astrophotography" slides (PDF, 23MB)
How I Do Astrophotography
Astrophotography Types
DSLR Telephoto Lens Solar Filter
Homemade iPhone Afocal Astrophotography Adapter
"Hat Trick" Method
Astrophotography Tips

Articles & Documents
Cataract Surgeries - Astronomer Perspective(Oct 2025)
Meade Manuals Archive
Barnard Objects spreadsheet
Eyepiece Occulting Bar
Venus Filter Tests
Herschel 400 List (Excel)
Revolution Imager settings (PDF)
Revolution Imager settings (Excel)
FOV Measurements spreadsheet (Excel)
Observing Logs from 1960s
Report: Partial Solar Eclipse 20 July 1963 (PDF)

Rockets
Falcon 9 Rocket Launch

SkyShed POD Articles, Tips, and Add-Ons
Road to Oracle Observatory
SkyShed POD Assembly Notes (from assembly video)
Arrival
Assembly
Making of Cassiopeia Observatory (video)
Carpet Installation
First Light
Leak Detective
Leak Work
Pivot Seals (image only)
Some Add-Ons
Pivot and Dome Gap Mitigation
Door Handle Add-On
Simple POD Light Shield
Dome Wheel Fix
Opening Cassiopeia Observatory (video)
monoPOD Camera Mount
Dome Dimple Fix (before)
Dome Dimple Fix (after)
Dome Wheel Modification
POD Roller Desk
POD iPad Platform
POD Zenith Table (PZT)
POD Door Hinge Fix
SkyShed POD Air Conditioner
Solar Powered LED Pathway Lights
POD Bay Cabinet
POD Door Fix
SkyShed POD Vinyl Dome Cover

Some of My Other Astronomy Web Pages
Edmund Scientific Telescopes Memorial Page
Oracle Dark Skies Committee
Light Pollution articles
Lighting Hall of Shame
Some Thoughts on Light Pollution and Light Nuisance
Visits to Other Observatories 10/05/24)
Cassiopeia Constellation Guide
Observational Guides and References
Initial 8" LX200-ACF Reports
Astronomy Themed OTR
Weasner's Mighty ETX Site

(04/02/26)
LX90 Site (no longer updated)
LXD55/75 Site (no longer updated)
Equipment Theft
Memorial Web Pages

My Other Pages
My Home Page
Family Home Page
Live Oracle Webcam (weather at Cassiopeia Observatory)

Interviews, Newspaper Articles, & Published Works
Star River interview

(Apr 2026)
Oracle Night Sky Charm (Dec 2025)
Dark Skies & Arizona National Scenic Trail in Pinal County
IU Foundation: Reach for The Stars
Citizen Hiker: Star Treks
Pinal County Celebrates Dark Skies: Crucial For Celestial Tourism And Arizona’s Astronomy Industry
Night Hikes in Arizona: Protecting our Skies
Museum eclipse event highlighting Seymour natives
Lights out: Oracle State Park hosts star viewing party to celebrate Arizona’s dark skies
Cronkite News report (starts 11:13)
Explore Alliance: Focus on Smartphone Astrophotography
Astrophotography with your smartphone
Stargazing gains followers, promotes tourism in rural regions
Phone Skope blog guest post
Explore Alliance Presents: Mike Weasner
Finding my Way to the Stars autobiography
Explore Alliance dark sites discussion
Celebrating IU Alumni Contributions
IU: The Art of Science
Clearer Skies Bring Opportunities For Stargazing
Arizona during International Dark Sky Week
Smartphone Astrophotography talk video
International Dark Sky Places talk video
2nd Arizona Dark Sky Star Party talk video
Planetary Society LightSail 2 satellite photo
Starry, starry nights shine in Pinal
Video about 1st Arizona Dark Sky Star Party participation
Mountain Vista kids learn it’s not just rocket science
My Interview with "The Mac Observer"
My Interview with "Rosie on the House" (7 AM segments)
Astronomer visits Mt. Vista School
How to photograph Great American Eclipse with your iPhone
A Universe of Images (Emmy Nominated PBS TV story)
Where are the 'darkest' places in Arizona?
Arizona Republic story on OSP IDSP Designation
Tucson News Now video story on OSP IDSP Designation
Arizona Daily Star story on OSP IDSP Designation
IDA Press Release: Oracle State Park
Arizona Daily Star article: Oracle State Park
Newspaper Interviews/Articles, Sky & Telescope article
Using the Meade ETX (book)
Astronomy with Small Telescopes (book chapter)

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