Thursday evening, 4 May 2017, I attended the monthly meeting of the Oracle Dark Skies Committee. Opened the observatory after I returned home.

Open: Thursday, 4 May 2017, 2021 MST Temperature: 85°F

Session: 1109 Conditions: Clear

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

Camera:
iPhone 6s Plus

2025 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed the waxing gibbous Moon, 102X.

2029 MST: Wi-Fi ON. Did some tests of the iOS app ScopeBoss for the developer. 2038 MST: Wi-Fi OFF.

2049 MST: began preparing for Moon imaging with the iPhone 6s Plus. Switched to a 2" 30mm eyepiece and mounted the iPhone on the 12" telescope using the Levenhuk adapter. This afocal 81X image was taken using the iOS app NightCap Camera (ISO 25, 1/600sec):

Next, did some lunar observing, 271X. Could almost see the exact location of the Moon's North Pole but the libration was not quite enough. The South Pole was not visible.

These iPhone afocal 271X images of the polar regions were taken with NightCap Camera (ISO 50, 1/45sec and 1/60sec, respectively):

Northern Pole Region


Southern Pole Region

Compare the above images with the images taken on the previous two sessions.

2113 MST: ended imaging.

Viewed Jupiter and the four Galilean Moons, 102X.

2117 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Thursday, 4 May 2017, 2125 MST Temperature: 77°F

Session Length: 1h 04m Conditions: Clear

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