On the previous session I reported on a problem with the Meade Visual Back and Star Diagonal. Recently the diagonal had been rotating even though both setscrews on the Visual Back were tight. Monday morning, 11 May 2026, I noticed there was a buildup of something on the outside of the diagonal tube where the setscrews made contact. I cleaned off the buildup. I tested it on this session.

Open: Monday, 11 May 2026, 1824 MST Temperature: 88°F

Session: 2135 Conditions: Mostly clear

Equipment:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
1.25" 26mm eyepiece

Camera:
iPhone 15 Pro Max

1833 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Began using the cleaned Meade Visual and Star Diagonal.

Viewed Venus, 102X and 94X. Then viewed Jupiter, 94X.

1840 MST: Relaxed on the observatory patio bench.

1916 MST: Sunset.

Back in the observatory. Attached the LiDAR Cover on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and mounted the iPhone on the 26mm eyepiece using the 3-axis adapter.

Took this afocal 94X image of Jupiter and three of the Galilean Moons using NightCap Camera (ISO 55, 1/120sec, 1X lens).

1933 MST: High Precision ON.

Slewed the telescope to NGC5248 (galaxy). It was not yet visible in the bright telescope sky.

1935 MST: Relaxed on the bench. While outside of the observatory I took this photo showing some of the clouds in the sky.

2024 MST: The clouds were increasing. Went back inside the observatory. Terminated a Kissing Bug in the observatory.

Viewed NGC5248 (galaxy), 94X.

Attached the LiDAR Cover on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and mounted the iPhone on the 26mm eyepiece using the 3-axis adapter.

2032 MST: StarLock ON.

Took this StarLock autoguided, afocal 94X image of NGC5248 using the Camera app (Night Mode, 30 seconds, 1X lens).

2050 MST: StarLock OFF.

There were no diagonal rotations this session.

2055 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Monday, 11 May 2026, 2102 MST Temperature: 80°F

Session Length: 2h 37m Conditions: Partly cloudy

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