NGC 5053

Also Known as: Cr 257, C 1313+179

Object Type: Globular Cluster

Constellation: Coma Berenices

Distance from Earth: 57 light years

Apparent Magnitude: 10.5

Coordinates: RA 13H 16M 27.09 Sec DEC 17 deg 42 min 00.9 sec

Actual Size: 100 light years

Apparent Dimensions: 10.5 arcminutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Environmental Data

Date: April 24 & April 26, 2026     Start Time: 8:55 PM / 8:54 PM    End Time: 11:02 PM / 10:33 PM    SQM: 18.78 / 18.24

Moon Age: 10.2 days (April 26)     Moonset: 3:56AM     Moon Illumination: 78.2%

Temperature: 44.6 / 46.2 degrees F    Humidity: 61 / 56%    Dew Point: 32 / 31.5 degrees F

Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790    Sky Condition: Partly cloudy both nights

Comment:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Imaging Scope Data

Mount: iOptron CEM120     Camera: ZWO ASI2600 monochrome     Focuser: Optec QuickSync FT20

Telescope: Celestron 11 inch SCT Edge   Focal Length: 2800mm

Focal Reducer/Field Flattener: None     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 3.26 / 4     Platesolve: Success on 3rd attempt    

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

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: 0.66 to 0.72 arc-seconds RMS (April 24), 0.56 to 0.78 arc-seconds RMS (April 26)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Images Taken

Number of light frames (LUM): 40        Duration: 2 minutes        Gain: 100        

Number of light frames (Red): 25        Duration: 2 minutes        Gain: 100        

Number of light frames (green): 25        Duration: 2 minutes        Gain: 100        

Number of light frames (Blue: 25        Duration: 2 minutes        Gain: 100        

Camera Temperature: 0 degrees C        Binning: 1x1        F-Stop: 10.0        

Total Integration Time: 3.83 hours

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of flat frames (LUM): 25        Duration: 0.12        Gain:100        

Number of flat frames (Red): 25        Duration: 0.38        Gain: 100        

Number of flat frames (Green): 25        Duration: 0.26        Gain: 100        

Number of flat frames (Blue): 25        Duration: 0.49        Gain: 100        

Flat Field Illumination: All-Pro 'Spike-a-Flat Field standard' illuminated panel

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

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        

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 DynamicCrop, GraXpert, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator
RED/GREEN/BLUE DynamicCrop, GraXpert, ChannelCombine to create color image using only Red/Green/Blue, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator, Autocolor

Non-Linear: LUM: MultiscaleAdaptiveStretch, CurvesTransformation
Color:MultiscaleAdaptiveStretch, CurvesTransformation, BlurXTerminator
ImageBlend script to combine LUM and COLOR masters, CurvesTransformation

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes:

Click Below Image for Full Size:

Click to Return to Home Page