Open: Tuesday, 10 December 2024, 1803 MST Temperature: 56°F

Session: 2048 Conditions: Clear

Equipment:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 5.5mm 100° eyepiece

Camera:
iPhone 15 Pro Max

1807 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed Venus, 102X.

This session I wanted to image some planets and the Moon at the same magnification to show how each object appeared in the eyepiece at the same scale. I would handhold the iPhone over the eyepiece to show how easy it is to image these objects without needing a smartphone eyepiece adapter. It does take some practice, but then I've been doing iPhone astrophotography since 2007.

Attached my LiDAR Cover on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

I took this handheld iPhone 15 Pro Max afocal 102X image of the planet Venus using the NightCap Camera app (ISO 6400, 1/90sec, 1X lens). The image shows the scale of the planet Venus in the eyepiece field-of-view (FOV). The slight gibbous phase of Venus is visible.

Viewed Saturn, 102X.

These handheld iPhone afocal 102X images of the planet Saturn show the planet and three of its moons at the same scale as the Venus image. They were taken with NightCap Camera (ISO 1600, 1/50sec and 1/10sec, respectively, 1X lens).

Next, I viewed the waxing gibbous Moon, 102X.

This handheld iPhone afocal 102X taken with the Apple Camera app (1X lens) shows the Moon at the same scale as the planets.

I then did some lunar observing, 443X.

I took these handheld iPhone afocal 443X images of the Moon using the Camera app (1X).

Crater Copernicus


Crater Tycho

I did some more lunar observing, 443X.

I viewed Jupiter, 102X. The four Galilean Moons were visible.

This single handheld iPhone afocal 102X image of Jupiter was taken with the NightCap Camera app (ISO 500, 1/160sec, 1X lens). It shows the cloud bands on the planet and the four Galilean Moons.

Lastly, I viewed Jupiter, 443X. All four Galilean Moons were visible in the wide FOV eyepiece.

1848 MST: LX600 OFF.

Close: Tuesday, 10 December 2024, 1857 MST Temperature: 47°F

Session Length: 0h 54m Conditions: Clear

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I have been using Clear Sky Chart astronomical weather forecasts for many years. I have learned that Attilla Danko, the creator of this valuable service recently passed away. Thanks to Attilla for all he did for astronomers around the world. You can learn more at Attilla Danko's Boring Homepage.

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