Messier 82 (M82)
Common Name: Cigar Galaxy
Also Known as: NGC 3034, ARP 337
Object Type: Irregular Galaxy
Constellation: Ursa major
Distance from Earth: 11.4 – 12.4 million light years
Apparent Magnitude: 8.41
Coordinates: RA 09H 55M 52.2S DEC 69 deg 49 min 47 sec
Actual Size: 37,000 light years in diameter
Apparent Dimensions: 11.2 arc-minutes x 4.3 arc-minutes
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Environmental Data
Date: March 9, 2025 Start Time: 7:46 PM End Time: 2:20 AM SQM: 17.44
Moon Age: 13.6 days Moonset: 6:00AM Moon Illumination: 98.4%
Temperature: 40 degrees F Humidity: 48% Dew Point: 21.7 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear
Comment:
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Imaging Scope Data
Mount: iOptron CEM120 Camera: ZWO ASI2600 monochrome Focuser: Optec QuickSync FT20
Telescope: Celestron 11 inch SCT Edge Focal Length: 1960mm
Focal Reducer/Field Flattener: 0.7 focal reducer Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip
Filter Wheel : ZWO EFW 7 position 2 inch Filter(s): Baader Lum CMOS optimized 2 inch, Baader RED CMOS optimized 2 inch, Baader GREEN CMOS optimized 2 inch, Baader BLUE CMOS optimized 2 inch
Rotator: Pegasus Falcon 2 Power Control: Pegasus Ultimate Powerbox V2
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 HFR 2.79 (LUM) Platesolve: Success on 3rd attempt
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Guide Scope Data
Telescope: Stellarvue SVX130 refractor Camera: ZWO ASI290 Focuser: Optec DirectSync SV35
Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip Software: PHD2 Exposure: 2 sec Binning: 1x1 Tracking Result: 0.5 arc-seconds RMS
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Images Taken
Number of light frames (LUM): 56 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Number of light frames (Red): 45 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Number of light frames (green): 45 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Number of light frames (Blue: 35 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Total Integration Time: 6.03 hours
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Number of flat frames (LUM): 40 Duration: 0.023 seconds Gain: 100
Number of flat frames (Red): 40 Duration: 0.073 seconds Gain: 100
Number of flat frames (Green): 40 Duration: 0.0485 seconds Gain: 100
Number of flat frames (Blue): 40 Duration: 0.095 seconds Gain: 100
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
Number of Bias frames: 50 (from library) Duration: 0.001 seconds Gain: 100
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Imaging Processing
Imaging Processing Software: PixInsight
Processes utilized: Linear - calibration/integration:
For each of the LUM, RED, GREEN, and BLUE lights: Flats ImageCalibration with Master Bias, Flat ImageIntegration, Images ImageCalibration with Flat Master & Dark Master, SubFrameSelector
StarAlign all calibrated lights using best LUM image as reference, ImageIntegration of each of the LUM, RED, GREEN, and BLUE sets
Linear - Background extraction, Color correction, deconvolution, noise reduction:
LUM GradientCorrection, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator, MultiscaleLinearTransform for sharpening
RED/GREEN/BLUE GradientCorrection, LRGBCombination to create color image using only Red/Green/Blue, ImageSolve, SpectroPhotometricColorCalibration, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator
Non-Linear:
LUM: GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch script, MultiscaleLinearTransform for sharpening
COLOR: GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch script
ImageBlend script to combine LUM and COLOR masters, CurvesTransformation, LHE, HistogramTransformation to darken background, HDRmultiscaleTransform to enhance contrast.
Notes:
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