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: April 2, 2023 Start Time: 8:09 PM End Time: 3:26 AM SQM: 17.6
Moon Age: 11.9 days Moonset: 5:14AM Moon Illumination: 90.9%
Temperature: 41 degrees F Humidity: 37% Dew Point: 17 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Mirky
Comment:
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Imaging Scope Data
Mount: iOptron CEM120 Camera: ZWO ASI2600 OSC Focuser: Optec QuickSync FT20
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 HFR 3.23 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: 3 sec Binning: 1x1 Tracking Result: 0.75 arc-seconds RMS with some wind spikes
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Images Taken
Number of light frames: 198 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -10 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 10.0
Total Integration Time: 6.6 hours
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Number of flat frames: 50 Duration: 0.15 seconds Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -10 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 10.0
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: -10 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 10.0
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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: 10.0
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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, HDRMultiscaleTransform, CurvesTransformation, MultiscaleLinearTransform for sharpening, DynamicCrop
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Notes:
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