Messier 38 (M38)
Common Name: Starfish Cluster
Also Known as: NGC 1912, Collinder 67
Object Type: Open Cluster
Constellation: Auriga
Distance from Earth: 4,200 light years
Apparent Magnitude: 7.4
Coordinates: RA 05H 28M 42S DEC 35 deg 51 min 18 sec
Actual Size: 50 light years in diameter
Apparent Dimensions: 21 arc-minutes
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Environmental Data
Date: March 5, 2023 Start Time: 6:46PM End Time: 10:21PM SQM: 18.40
Moon Age: 13.5 days Moonset: 5:46AM Moon Illumination: 98.2%
Temperature: 41.5 degrees F Humidity: 71% Dew Point: 33 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Full Moon, breezy
Comment:
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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 1.54 Platesolve: Success on 2nd attempt
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Guide Scope Data
Telescope: Stellarvue SV90 refractor Camera: ZWO ASI290 Focuser: Optec DirectSync SVX30
Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip Software:PHD2 Exposure: 2 sec Binning: 1x1 Tracking Result: 0.6 arc-seconds RMS
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Images Taken
Number of light frames: 120 Duration: 1 minute Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -10 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: -10 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: 1 minute Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -10 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: -10 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, AutoColor script, BlurXTerminator
Non-Linear: GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch script, HistogramTransformation, DynamicCrop.
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Notes: Cleaned ZWO ASI2600 sensor again to completely remove the grease found on the sensor.
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