This session was devoted to lunar observing. IWLOP objects were completed and Mars and Saturn were observed.

Lunar Phase: Waxing Gibbous (59.6%)
Q-Day: -1

Moonrise: 3:17 PM
Sunrise: 7:02 AM          Sunset: 7:28 PM

Location: Home
Date: 2018-09-17
Time: 7:30 PM - 10:45 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 10 mm eyepiece (+ x2 Barlow)
Magnification: x250

Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Fair (2)
Temperature: 24º C
SQM: 17.58 - 19.11

My main objective was to check off more items from the RASC Explore the Moon (Telescope). In doing so, it meant I cold also observe several IWLOP objects: 

I also took some time to locate two planets:

Saturn
Time: 8:05 PM ADT
Equipment: Telescope

Viewed Saturn west of the Moon in the southern sky. Able to see the planet and one of its moons (Titan). The rings were clearly visible as well.

 

Saturn with Titan

 

Mars
Time: 10:20 PM ADT
Equipment: Visual + Telescope 10 mm eyepiece + x2 Barlow
Magnification: x500

Visually, Mars twinkled slightly. Using the telescope with the x2 Barlow with seeing that was not the greatest meant I had a blurred view of the planet. However, I catch sight of the northern polar cap occasionally.

 

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