2024-04-16

• Condition: VG5
• Location: Home, Spearfish: 44.49, -103.87

08:45PM

• Target: Mons Piton
• Long: 359.07
• Lat: 40.71
• Type: Mountain
• Scope: AT102ED
• Setting: 306x, Moon & Skyglow filter
• Images: [[../images/2024-04-16MonsPiton1.jpg) [[../images/2024-04-16MonsPiton2.jpg)

It was certainly a different experience to locate a target on the moon and observe it. I used the zoom lens at 7mm with the 3x Barlow to push magnification past the theoretical maximum to 306x. The moon moved so quickly at this magnification that I had to continually re-adjust to keep it in the FoV.

I might have to revisit getting the RA tracking motor attached to the new mount.

Mons Piton was a fun test. I noticed what looked like a narrow shadow running from the top down its west side. The shadow near the top had a distinct “hook” to it.