I was on travel 2-13 October 2017. Saturday afternoon, 14 October, I attended an event at Oracle State Park.

Open: Saturday, 14 October 2017, 1830 MST Temperature: 75°F

Session: 1149 Conditions: Clear

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

Camera:
D7200 DSLR

After opening the observatory dome I SYNCed the observatory clock to WWV.

1841 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

SYNCed the AutoStar using the star Altair.

Viewed Saturn 102X. Four moons were visible.

I then did some additional tests of a primary mirror lock mechanism to try to avoid the excessive focus shifting due to movement of the heavy mirror during slewing. 1930 MST: ended these tests, but I continued to use the mechanism.

Viewed the galaxies M110, M31 (Andromeda Galaxy), and M32, 102X. SYNCed on M32.

Viewed the galaxy NGC891, 102X. The galaxy was faint but large in the eyepiece.

Began preparing to image NGC891. Mounted the D7200 DSLR at prime focus + focal reducer. After focusing on a star using the Bahtinov Mask the 12" telescope was slewed to NGC891.

2009 MST: StarLock ON. Did a 1 minute framing test exposure of NGC891. Framing was good. This is a slightly cropped StarLock autoguided, 5 minute, ISO 6400, White Balance 3570K, exposure of the galaxy NGC891:

2019 MST: StarLock OFF. Ended imaging for this session. Removed the camera and focal reducer.

Viewed the Double Cluster, 102X. Always a nice view.

As it had been a long day of activities I began closing up for the night. It was nice to get back in the observatory after my travel.

2031 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Saturday, 14 October 2017, 2043 MST Temperature: 66°F

Session Length: 2h 13m Conditions: Clear

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