Cloudy skies returned on Sunday, 11 May 2025. The sky cleared on Wednesday, 14 May, but was very hazy due to several days of strong winds.

Open: Thursday, 15 May 2025, 1847 MST Temperature: 87°F

Session: 2094 Conditions: Clear

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

Camera:
None

SYNCed the observatory clock to WWV time signals.

1854 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed Jupiter, 102X. No moons were visible in the bright sky.

1901-1945 MST: Relaxed on the observatory patio bench.

1918 MST: Sunset.

After going back inside the observatory, I observed Jupiter and the four Galilean Moons, 102X.

I then prepared the D850 DSLR for my planned imaging later.

1953 MST: High Precision ON.

2000-2030 MST: Relaxed on the bench while waiting for the sky to get darker. I saw many Earth-orbiting satellites. Several were as bright as the star Arcturus (Mag. −0.05).

Back in the observatory I observed M104 (Sombrero Galaxy), 102X.

Laurraine then came out to the observatory to do some observing. We observed M104 (Sombrero Galaxy), the star Arcturus, M13 (Great Globular Cluster in Hercules), and the night sky.

I then decided to skip imaging this session and began closing up the observatory.

2123 MST: LX600 OFF.

2133 MST: Took a Sky Quality reading.

Close: Thursday, 15 May 2025, 2136 MST Temperature: 62°F

Session Length: 2h 49m Conditions: Clear, SQM 20.99

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ABC15 in Phoenix, Arizona, interviewed me for their "In the Neighborhood" show:
Dark Skies and the Arizona National Scenic Trail in Pinal County

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