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An Oops, Barnard Objects observing

Posted: 6 June 2024

Late Monday afternoon, 3 June 2024, clouds arrived. The sky cleared on Wednesday, 5 June.

Open: Wednesday, 5 June 2024, 1913 MST
Temperature: 88°F
Session: 1981
Conditions: Clear

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

Camera:
D850 DSLR

Prepared the D850 DSLR for later imaging.

1923 MST: Relaxed on the observatory patio bench.

1931 MST: Sunset.

2030 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision ON.

Mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus + focal reducer and focused on the star Spica.

2035 MST: Relaxed on the observatory patio bench while waiting for the sky to get darker.

2050 MST: Back in the observatory. Checked the focus, locked the 12" mirror, and slewed to Asteroid (819) Barnardiana.

2055 MST: StarLock OFF.

I took StarLock autoguided images, 5 minutes, ISO 6400 at 2100 MST and 2200 MST. In between the images I relaxed on the bench.

2206 MST: StarLock OFF.

After I prepared to observe some Barnard Objects (dark nebulae) I discovered that I had made a pointing error and so did not image Asteroid (819) Barnardiana. Oops. I will image the asteroid on my next session, which will likely be delayed for a few nights due to cloudy forecasts.

2212 MST: Observed, or tried to, the following Barnard Objects, 102X: B40, B229, B41, B42, B200, B230, B43, B177, B231, B44, and B176. Several of these were easily seen.

2249 MST: High Precision OFF.

I then viewed some Deep Sky Objects in the constellation of Scorpius, 102X: M80 (globular cluster), M4 (globular cluster), NGC6124 (open cluster), NGC6231 (open cluster), NGC6302 (Bug Nebula, planetary nebula), M6 (Butterfly Cluster, open cluster), and M7 (open cluster).

2300 MST: LX600 OFF.

2312 MST: Took a Sky Quality reading and reported the result to Globe at Night.

Close: Wednesday, 5 June 2024, 2316 MST
Temperature: 77°F
Session Length: 4h 03m
Conditions: Clear, SQM 21.01


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