Messier 40 (M40), NGC 4284, NGC 4290
Common Name: Winnecke 4 (M40)
Also Known as: Winnecke 4 (M40)
Object Type: Double Star (M40) ... Spiral Galaxy (NGC 4284) ... Ring Spiral Galaxy (NGC 4290)
Constellation: Ursa Major
Distance from Earth: 510 light years (M40) ... 225 million light years (NGC 4284) ... 144 million light years (NGC 4290)
Apparent Magnitude: (M40) 9.65 and 10.1
M40 Coordinates: RA 12H 22M 12S DEC 58deg 5min 34sec
NGC 4284 Coordinates: RA 12H 22M 12.8S DEC 58deg 5min 36sec
NGC 4290 Coordinates: RA 12H 20M 48S DEC 58deg 5min 33sec
NGC 4284 Actual Size: 49.5 light years
Apparent Dimensions: 2.5 arc-minutes x 1.2 arc-minutes (NGC 4284) .... 2.25 arc-minutes x 1.5 arc-minutes (NGC 4290)
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Environmental Data
Date: February 4, 2024 Start Time: 7:53PM End Time: 2:13AM SQM: 19.46
Moon Age: 23.6 days Moonrise: 2:09AM Moon Illumination: 34.8%
Temperature: 31 degrees F Humidity: 78% Dew Point: 25 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear, wind gusts
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 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: 3.6 Platesolve: Good 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: PPHD2 Exposure: 1 sec Binning: 1x1 Tracking Result: 0.65 arc-seconds RMS with wind spikes
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Images Taken
Number of light frames: 173 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Total Integration Time: 5.77 hours
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Number of flat frames: 50 Duration: 0.05 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: DynamicBackgroundExtraction, ImageSolve, SpectroPhotometricColorCalibration, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator
Non-Linear: GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch script, MultiScaleLinearTransform (to sharpen), CurvesTransformation, DynamicCrop.
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Notes: Wind gusts caused autofocus to have to perform repeat attempts to achieve good focus.
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