Messier 108 (M108)
Common Name: Surfboard Galaxy
Also Known as: NGC 3556
Object Type: Barred Spiral Galaxy
Constellation: Ursa Major
Distance from Earth: 45.9 million light years
Apparent Magnitude: 10.7
Coordinates: RA 11H 11M 31.0S DEC 55 deg 40 min 27 sec
Actual Size: 110,000 light years in diameter
Apparent Dimensions: 8.7 arc-minutes x 2.2 arc-seconds
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Environmental Data
Date: April 15, 2020 Start Time: 9:27PM End Time: 3:00AM SQM: 18.97
Moon Age: 22.6 days Moonrise: 02:45AM Moon Illumination: 45.0%
Temperature: 54 degrees F Humidity: 40% Dew Point: 30 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear
Comment: Too low in the trees at 3AM.
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Imaging Scope Data
Mount: iOptron CEM120 Camera: ZWO ASI071 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: None Power Control: None Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip
Imaging Software
Mount: iOptron Commander Focuser: Optec FocusLynx Commander
Imaging: Sequence Generator Pro Platesolve: ASTAP Rotator/Control:
Imaging Status
Imaging Software: Sequence Generated Focus HFR 2.95 Platesolve: Good on 3rd attempt
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Guide Scope Data
Telescope: Stellarvue SVX130 refractor Camera: Lodestar X2 Focuser: Optec DirectSync SV35
Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip Software: PHD2 Tracking Result: 0.7 arc-seconds RMS
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Images Taken
Number of light frames: 47 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: HDR
Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Total Integration Time: 1.57 hours
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Number of flat frames: 50 Duration: 0.16 seconds Gain: HDR
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: HDR
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: HDR
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
Non-Linear: GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch script, MultiscaleLinearTransform for sharpening, CurvesTransformation.
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Notes:
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