On Thursday, 2 January 2025, I saw this on display at our local Post Office.

Click or tap on image for larger version

Open: Thursday, 2 January 2025, 1816 MST Temperature: 70°F

Session: 2059 Conditions: Clear

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

Camera:
iPhone 15 Pro Max
D850 DSLR

1823 MST: Southwestern sky with Saturn at the top, crescent Moon with Earthshine, and Venus above the Moon. Taken with the iPhone 15 Pro Max Camera app (Night Mode, 3 seconds, 1X lens, handheld).

1826 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed Saturn, 102X. Viewed Venus, 102X. Viewed the Moon with Earthshine, 102X and 81X.

Attached my LiDAR Cover on the iPhone and mounted the iPhone on the 30mm eyepiece using the 3-axis adapter. Took these photos using the Camera app.

Earthshine (Night Mode, 3 seconds, 1X lens)


Moon (1X lens)

Viewed Jupiter, 81X.

1855 MST: High Precision ON.

Prepared the D850 DSLR camera for imaging later.

Viewed M1 (Crab Nebula), 81X.

Re-attached the LiDAR Cover and mounted the iPhone on the 30mm eyepiece.

1934 MST: StarLock ON.

Took the following iPhone afocal 81X StarLock autoguided images.

M1 Crab Nebula (Night Mode, 30 seconds, 1X lens)


M1 Crab Nebula (Night Mode, 30 seconds, 2X lens)


M42 Orion Nebula (Night Mode, 30 seconds, 1X lens)


NGC1977 Running Man Nebula (Night Mode, 30 seconds, 1X lens)


NGC2024 Flame Nebula (Night Mode, 30 seconds, 1X lens)


IC434 Horsehead Nebula (Night Mode, 30 seconds, 1X lens)

2020 MST: StarLock OFF.

Mounted the D850 DSLR camera at prime focus + focal reducer, focused on the star Betelgeuse, and locked the 12" telescope primary mirror.

2035 MST: High Precision OFF, Wi-Fi ON.

Used SkySafari 7 Pro on the iPhone to GOTO Asteroid (29725) Mikewest, Mag. +18.5. For many years Mike West worked at Oceanside Photo & Telescope (OPT) and was an excellent resource for many astronomers. I fell in love with asteroids as an undergraduate astrophysics student at Indiana University. From 1966-1970 I worked on the IU Asteroid Program. I am always thrilled when I can capture an asteroid deservedly named for a friend.

2039 MST: Wi-Fi OFF, StarLock ON.

2053 MST and 2153 MST: Took StarLock autoguided images (significantly cropped) of Asteroid Mikewest, 5 minutes, ISO 6400. Seeing was not very good while I was imaging the asteroid.

2159 MST: StarLock OFF.

Viewed Mars, 102X.

2206 MST: LX600 OFF.

2209 MST: Took this iPhone photo using the Camera app (Night Mode, 10 seconds, 1X lens) showing Mars, Jupiter, Gemini, Orion, Sirius, and the Winter Milky Way.

Mouseover or tap on image for labels

2217 MST: Took a Sky Quality reading.

Close: Thursday, 2 January 2025, 2220 MST Temperature: 55°F

Session Length: 4h 04m Conditions: Clear, SQM 20.83

---

Comments are welcome using Email. Please read the Email Etiquette guidance.

---

Previous report

Cassiopeia Observatory Home Page