Messier 53 (M53)
Also Known as: NGC 5024
Object Type: Globular Cluster
Constellation: Coma Berenices
Distance from Earth: 58,000 light years
Apparent Magnitude: 8.33
Coordinates: RA 13H 12M 55.25S DEC 18 deg 10 min 05.4 sec
Actual Size: 220 light years in diameter
Apparent Dimensions: 13 arc-minutes, dense central region is 2 arc-minutes in diameter
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Environmental Data
Date: March 20, 2023 Start Time: 8:54PM End Time: 2:10AM SQM: 18.46
Moon Age: 28.3 days Moonset: 5:47PM Moon Illumination: 1.8%
Temperature: 38 degrees F Humidity: 79% Dew Point: 32 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear, breezy
Comment: Had to wait until 8:48 since it is too low in the East.
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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 1.89 Platesolve: Success on 1st 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: 0.75 arc-seconds RMS
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Images Taken
Number of light frames: 134 Duration: 2 minute Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Total Integration Time: 4.47 hours
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Number of flat frames: 40 Duration: 0.1 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: 1 minute 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, MultiscaleLinearTransform to sharpen, HistogramTransform, DynamicCrop
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Notes: The last hour of imaging the autoguiding worsened.
Click Below Image for Full Size:
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