Messier 61 (M61)
Also Known as: NGC 4303
Object Type: Intermediate Barred Spiral Galaxy
Constellation: Virgo
Distance from Earth: 52.5 million light years
Apparent Magnitude: 9.7
Coordinates: RA 12H 21M 54.9S DEC 4deg 28min 25sec
Actual Size: 100,000 light years in diameter
Apparent Dimensions: 6.5 arc-minutes x 5.8 arc-minutes
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Environmental Data
Date: May 18, 2023 Start Time: 9:31PM End Time: 2:28AM SQM: 16.11
Moon Age: 28.5 days Moonrise: 4:38AM Moon Illumination: 1.2%
Temperature: 50 degrees F Humidity: 65% Dew Point: 39 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear
Comment: PHD2 good calibration. The last hour or so of imaging the scope was too low, aimed at observatory walls.
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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 2.16 Platesolve: Success on 3rd 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: 3 sec Binning: 1x1 Tracking Result: 0.9 arc-seconds RMS
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Images Taken
Number of light frames: 132 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -10 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Total Integration Time: 4.4 hours
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Number of flat frames: 52 Duration: 0.16 seconds Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -10 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: -10 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: -10 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, MultiscaleLinear Transform to sharpen, CurvesTransformation, MultiscaleLinear Transform to sharpen, DynamicCrop
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Notes:
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