Saturday, 21 March 2026, when I arrived at the observatory for my previous session I saw that the air conditioner duct had once again failed.

Early Sunday morning, 22 March, before the air temperature got too hot due to our extreme heat wave, a good friend and I removed the 9 year old duct and installed a new duct. (He did most of the work! THANKS!).

Sunday, 22 March, and Monday, 23 March, the sky was cloudy.

Open: Wednesday, 25 March 2026, 1812 MST Temperature: 76°F

Session: 2122 Conditions: Clear, breezy

Equipment:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 30mm eyepiece
2" 9mm 100° eyepiece

Camera:
iPhone 15 Pro Max

1817 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

1820 MST: Dome OFF.

Viewed the Moon, 102X and 81X.

Attached the LiDAR Cover on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and mounted the iPhone on the 30mm eyepiece using a 3-axis adapter. Did some iPhone afocal imaging of the Moon.

1831 MST: Relaxed on the observatory patio bench in a time of reflection.

1841 MST: Sunset. Breezes had calmed down.

Returned to the 12" telescope and began taking iPhone afocal 81X images of the Moon using the Camera app (1X lens). This image shows the near First Quarter Moon.

I then did some lunar observing, 271X. There were many nice views along the lunar terminator.

Took these iPhone afocal 271X images of the Moon using the Camera app (1X lens).

Removed the camera and viewed Jupiter, 102X. Three of the four Galilean Moons were visible. I then viewed Jupiter, 271X. The fourth Galilean Moon, Callisto, was just becoming visible at the limb of the planet.

1921 MST: Dome ON.

Viewed Venus, 102X and 271X. A very slight gibbous phase was visible using 271X.

1926 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Wednesday, 25 March 2026, 1935 MST Temperature: 71°F

Session Length: 1h 23m Conditions: Clear

This session was dedicated to John, a special friend for 60 years.

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