I did not open the observatory Wednesday night, 27 May 2026, due to wind and a commitment the next day. Thursday, 28 May, was cloudy. I had planned to open the observatory Friday evening, 29 May, but it was windy.

Open: Saturday, 30 May 2026, 1833 MST Temperature: 78°F

Session: 2141 Conditions: Clear, breezy

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

Camera:
iPhone 15 Pro Max
D850 DSLR

1838 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed the planet Venus, 102X. Then viewed the planet Jupiter, 102X.

1843 MST: Relaxed on the observatory patio bench.

1928 MST: Sunset. Calm now. Back in the observatory.

Viewed Jupiter, 102X. Two of the Galilean Moons were visible in the bright blue twilight sky. Tried to observe the planet Mercury but it was not yet visible low in the bright twilight sky.

1944 MST: Viewed the planet Mercury, 102X. A nearly full disk was visible.

1946 MST: Viewed Jupiter, 102X. All four Galilean Moons were now visible.

1948 MST: Back to the bench while waiting for the nearly full Moon to rise over the hill to the southeast.

2012 MST: This iPhone 15 Pro Max photo taken with the Camera app (1X lens) shows Jupiter and Venus in the western sky. The two planets will be closer together each night and will be at their closest together on 9 June.

2023 MST: Rising Moon, D850 DSLR camera (f/5.6, 1/160sec, and f/11, 1/200sec, ISO 100, FL 300mm).

2026 MST: Back in the observatory. Viewed the Moon, 102X. A very slight terminator was visible.

Handheld iPhone afocal 102X photo of the Moon, Camera app (1X lens).

I then prepared the D850 camera for imaging. Mounted the camera at prime focus of the 12" telescope.

2041 MST: The Moon (1/200sec, ISO 100). The image was highly saturated during post-processing to show the colors of some minerals on the lunar surface.

2049 MST: Removed the camera and projected the Moon onto the observatory dome using the 2" 24mm UWA eyepiece. Stepped outside of the observatory and took this handheld iPhone 15 Pro Max photograph showing the planets Jupiter and Venus at the upper left and the Moon on the Dome. Taken with the Camera app (Night Mode, 3 seconds, 1X lens).

2054 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Saturday, 30 May 2026, 2102 MST Temperature: 66°F

Session Length: 2h 29m Conditions: Clear

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