Messier 34 (M34)
Also Known as: NGC 1039, Collinder 31
Object Type: Open Cluster
Constellation: Perseus
Distance from Earth: 1,500 light years
Apparent Magnitude: 5.5
Coordinates: RA 02H 42.1M 0S DEC 42 deg 46 min 0 sec
Actual Size: 14 light years in diameter
Apparent Dimensions: 35 arc-minutes
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Environmental Data
Date: November 8, 2021 Start Time: 6:03PM End Time: 8:11PM SQM: 19.72
Moon Age: 4.5 days Moonset: 7:49PM Moon Illumination: 21.5%
Temperature: 49 degrees F Humidity: 68% Dew Point: 38 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear
Comment: Imaging M34 and NGC 281
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Imaging Scope Data
Mount: iOptron CEM120 Camera: ZWO ASI2600 OSC Focuser: Optec DirectSync SV35
Telescope: Stellarvue SVX130 refractor Focal Length: 910mm
Focal Reducer/Field Flattener: Field Flattener Filter: None
Rotator: Pegasus Falcon Power Control: Pegasus Ultimate Powerbox V2 Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip
Imaging Software
Mount: iOptron Commander Focuser: Optec FocusLynx Commander
Imaging: Sequence Generator Pro Platesolve: ASTAP Rotator/Control: Pegasus Unity Platform
Imaging Status
Imaging Software: Sequence Generated Focus Good HFR 1.36 Platesolve: Good on 3rd attempt
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Guide Scope Data
Telescope: Stellarvue SV90 refractor Camera: LodestarX2 Focuser: Optec DirectSync SVX30
Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip Software: PHD2 Exposure: 2 sec Binning: 1x1 Tracking Result: 0.66 arc-seconds RMS
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Images Taken
Number of light frames: 60 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Total Integration Time: 2 hours
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Number of flat frames: 50 Duration: 0.1 seconds Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Flat Field Illumination: All-Pro 'Spike-a-Flat Field standard' illuminated panel
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Number of Dark frames: 50 (from library) Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
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Number of Bias frames: 50 (from library) Duration: 0.001 seconds Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
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Imaging Processing
Imaging Processing Software: PixInsight
Processes utilized: Linear - calibration/integration: Flats ImageCalibration with Master Bias, Flat ImageIntegration, Images ImageCalibration with Flat Master & Dark Master, Debayer, SubFrameSelector, StarAlign, ImageIntegration
Linear - Background extraction, Color correction, deconvolution, noise reduction: DynamicCrop, DynamicBackgroundExtraction, ImageSolve, SpectroPhotometricColorCalibration, BlurXTerminator
Non-Linear: GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch script, CurvesTransformation, HistogramTransformation
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Notes:
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