NGC 281

Common Name: Pacman Nebula

Also Known as: IC 11, Sh2-184

Object Type: Emission Nebula

Constellation: Cassiopeia

Distance from Earth: 9,500 Light years

Apparent Magnitude: 7.4

Coordinates: RA 00H 52M 59.3S DEC 56deg 37min 19sec

Actual Size: 96 light years in diameter

Apparent Dimensions: 35 arc-minutes

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Environmental Data

Date: November 8, 2021     Start Time: 8:27PM     End Time: 2:23AM     SQM: 19.72

Moon Age: 4.5 days     Moonset: 7:49PM     Moon Illumination: 21.5%

Temperature: 49 degrees F    Humidity: 68%    Dew Point: 38 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: Stellarvue SVX130 refractor   Focal Length: 910mm

Focal Reducer/Field Flattener: Field Flattener    Filter: None

Rotator: Pegasus Falcon Rotator    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 1.36    Platesolve: Good on 3rd attempt    

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Guide Scope Data

Telescope: Stellarvue SV90 refractor refractor    Camera: Lodestar X2     Focuser: Optec DirectSync SVX30

Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip    Software: PHD2     Tracking Result: 0.7 arc-seconds RMS

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Images Taken

Number of light frames: 165        Duration: 2 minutes        Gain: 100        

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

Total Integration Time: 5.5 hours

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Number of flat frames: 50       Duration: 0.1 seconds        Gain: 100        

Camera Temperature: -20 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: 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: DynamicCrop, DynamicBackgroundExtraction, ImageSolve, SpectroPhotometricColorCalibration, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator, StarXterminator

Non-Linear: Stars only image: Histrogram transformation:
Starless image: GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch script, MultiscaleLinearTransform for sharpening, CurvesTransformation
Stars only and Starless images merged using Pixelmath

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Notes:

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