Messier 44 (M44)
Common Name: Beehive Cluster
Also Known as: NGC 2632, Praesepe, the Manger, Melotte 88
Object Type: Open Cluster
Constellation: Cancer
Distance from Earth: 577 light years
Apparent Magnitude: 3.7
Coordinates: RA 08H 40.4M 0S DEC 19 deg 59 min 0 sec
Actual Size: bright central core 22.8 light years in diameter, tidal radius is about 39 light years
Apparent Dimensions: 95 arc-minutes
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Environmental Data
Date: April 4, 2020 Start Time: End Time: SQM: 16.00
Moon Age: 11.3 days Moonset: 4:41AM Moon Illumination: 86.8%
Temperature: 54 degrees F Humidity: 85% Dew Point: 50 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear
Comment: PHD2 good calibration and Guide Assistant update
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Imaging Scope Data
Mount: Celestron CPC1100 Mount Camera: ZWO ASI071 Focuser: None
Telescope: Stellarvue SV90 refractor Focal Length: 630mm
Focal Reducer/Field Flattener: Field Flattener 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: None Rotator/Control: None
Imaging Status
Imaging Software: Sequence Generated Focus Good 2.05 Platesolve:
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Guide Scope Data
Telescope: Stellarvue SVX130 refractor Camera: Lodestar X2 Focuser: Optec 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: 35 Duration: 1 minute Gain: HDR
Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Total Integration Time: 0.58 hours
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Number of flat frames: 25 Duration: 0.2 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: 60 Duration: 1 minute Gain: HDR
Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
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Number of Bias frames: 60 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, AutomaticBackgroundExtraction, EzDenoise script, PhotometricColorCalibration
Non-Linear: HistrogramTransformation, RangeSelectMask, HistogramTransformation of background, DynamicCrop.
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Notes:
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