IC 2233 and NGC 2537
Common Name: Bear Paw Galaxy (NGC 2537)
Also Known as: UGC 4278, LEDA 23071 (IC2233) Bear Paw Galaxy, Bear Claw Galaxy, Arp 6, PGC 23040, UGC 4274 (NGC 2537)
Object Type: Galaxies
Constellation: : Lynx
Distance from Earth: 40 million light years (both)
Apparent Magnitude: 12.63 (IC 2233), 12.3 (NGC 2537)
Coordinates: RA 8H 15M 49S DEC 45 deg 39 min 41 sec (IC 2233) RA 8H 13M 14.6S DEC 45 deg 59 min 23 sec (NGC 2537)
Actual Size: 13,000 light years (NGC 2537)
Apparent Dimensions: 4.9 arcminutes x 0.5 arcminutes (IC 2233), 1.7 arcminutes x 1.5 arcminutes (NGC 2537)
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Environmental Data
Date: February 9, 12, 13, 2026 Start Time: 6:17PM / 6:32/ 6:13 PM End Time: 8:40PM / 2:15AM / 8:31PM SQM: 18.43 / 19.07 / 17.75
Moon Age: 25.6 days (Feb 13) Moonrise: 5:39AM Moon Illumination: 16.8%
Temperature: 24.3 / 29.7 / 28.2 degrees F Humidity: 35% / 50% / 62% Dew Point: 0.7 / 13.1 / 16.9 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear early, clouds later
Comment: Due to early clouds it took 3 nights to acquire sufficient images. Windy on Feb 12 causing delays in imaging. Also had to recharge the desiccant tablets after Feb 9.
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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: 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 4.06/4.7/2.91 Platesolve: Success on 2nd attempt all 3 nights
Guide Scope Data
Telescope: Stellarvue SVX130 refractor Camera: ZWO ASI290 Focuser: Optec DirectSync SV35
Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip Software: PHD2 Exposure: 1-2 sec Binning: 1x1 Tracking Result: 0.6 to 0.8 arc-seconds RMS Feb 9th, 0.5 to 1.0 arc-seconds RMS Feb 12 (breezy), 0.5 arcseconds RMS Feb 13
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Images Taken
Number of light frames (LUM): 30/15/23 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Number of light frames (Red): 25/19 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Number of light frames (Green): 30 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Number of light frames (Blue: 17/15 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 10.0
Total Integration Time: 5.8 hours
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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
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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 DynamicCrop, GraXpert, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator
RED/GREEN/BLUE DynamicCrop, GraXpert, ChannelCombination to create color image using only Red/Green/Blue, ImageSolve, SpectroPhotometricColorCalibration, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator
Non-Linear:
LUM: MultiscaleAdaptiveStretch, CurvesTransformation to darken background and brighten forground, MultiScaleLinearTransform to sharpen.
COLOR: MultiscaleAdaptiveStretch, CurvesTransformation to increase color saturation.
ImageBlend of Luminance and color images, RangeSelection to create mask to remove faint satellite trail, CurvesTransformation to increase color saturation, HistogramTransformation to darken background.
Notes:
Click Below Image for Full Size:
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