Messier 46 (M46) and NGC 2438 Planetary Nebula
Also Known as: NGC 2437 (M46), Collinder 159 (M46)
Object Type: Open Cluster (M46), Planetary Nebula (NGC 2438)
Constellation: Puppis
Distance from Earth: 5,400 light years (M46), 1370 light years (NGC 2438)
Apparent Magnitude: 6.1 (M46), 10.8 (NGC 2438)
Coordinates: RA 07H 41.8M 0S DEC -14 deg 49 min 0 sec
Actual Size: 30 light years in diameter (M46)
Apparent Dimensions: 27 arc-minutes (M46), 1.1 arc-minutes (NGC 2438)
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Environmental Data
Date: February 24, 2024 Start Time: 6:46PM End Time: 12:15AM
Sky Condition: Clear, full Moon, breezy SQM: 18.62
Temperature: 31.9 degrees F Humidity: 61% Dew Point: 19.9 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790
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 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 2.57 Platesolve: Success 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: PHD2 Exposure: 2 sec Binning: 1x1 Tracking Result: 0.95 arc-seconds RMS
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Images Taken
Number of light frames: 143 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Total Integration Time: 4.77 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, CurvesTransformation, MultiscaleLinearTransform for sharpening, DynamicCrop.
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Notes: Moon very bright as night progressed. M46 too low in West sky after midnight.
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