Open: Monday, 3 July 2023, 1925 MST Temperature: 93°F

Session: 1903 Conditions: Clear, hazy

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

Camera:
iPhone 13 Pro Max

1930 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed Venus, 102X.

1938 MST: Sunset.

Took this handheld iPhone 13 Pro Max afocal 102X image of Venus using NightCap Camera (ISO 34, 1/4000sec, 1X lens).

1945 MST: Relaxed on the observatory patio bench to watch the stars come out.

2012 MST: Back inside the observatory. Viewed Venus again, 102X.

SYNCed on Spica.

2016 MST: High Precision ON.

Planned to observe some Herschel 400 objects before the just past Full Moon rises and brightens the sky. Slewed to NGC4725 (galaxy), but it was not yet visible in the twilight sky.

2021 MST: Back to the bench while waiting for the sky to get darker. The Moon would rise at 2026 MST, but would still be behind the hill to the southeast.

2030 MST: Back to the observatory.

2031 MST: Began observing these Herschel 400 galaxies, 102X: NGC4725, NGC4753, NGC4754, and NGC4762.

2042 MST: Southeastern sky brightening from the rising Moon. Continued observing H400 galaxies: NGC4781, NGC4800, NGC4845, NGC4856, and NGC4866.

2054 MST: Ended observing the galaxies due to the increasing sky brightness.

2058 MST: Relaxed on the bench while waiting for the Moon to rise over the hill.

2131 MST: Just past Full Moon rose over the hill to the southeast.

2132 MST: Back at the 12" telescope I observed the Moon low in the sky, 102X and 81X. A very slight terminator was visible. Took this handheld iPhone afocal 81X image of the Moon using NightCap Camera (ISO 34, 1/210sec, 1X lens).

Took a final look at the Moon, 102X.

2142 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Monday, 3 July 2023, 2151 MST Temperature: 82°F

Session Length: 2h 26m Conditions: Clear

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