Messier 52 (M52)

Also Known as: NGC 7654, Collinder 455

Object Type: Open Cluster

Constellation: Cassiopeia

Distance from Earth: 4,600 light years

Apparent Magnitude: 6.9

Coordinates: RA 23H 24M 48S DEC 61 deg 35 min 36 sec

Actual Size: 22 light years in diameter

Apparent Dimensions: 13 arc-minutes

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Environmental Data

Date: November 15, 2023 Start Time: 5:45PM End Time: 8:05PM SQM: 18.18

Moon Age: 2.4 days Moonset: 5:49PM Moon Illumination: 6.7%

Temperature: 42 degrees F Humidity: 74% Dew Point: 34 degrees F

Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear

Comment:

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Imaging Scope Data

Mount: iOptron CEM120 Camera: ZWO ASI2600 OSC Focuser: Optec DirectSync SV35

Telescope: Celestron 11 inch SCT Edge Focal Length: 1960mm

Focal Reducer/Field Flattener: 0.7 focal reducer 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 2.14 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: 0.62 arc-seconds RMS

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Images Taken

Number of light frames: 65 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100

Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0

Total Integration Time: 2.16 hours

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Number of flat frames: 50 Duration: 0.05 seconds Gain: 100

Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0

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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: DynamicBackgroundExtraction, ImageSolve, SpectroPhotometricColorCalibration, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator

Non-Linear: GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch script, CurvesTransformation

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Notes:

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