Messier 63 (M63)
Common Name: Sunflower Galaxy
Also Known as: NGC 5055
Object Type: Spiral Galaxy
Constellation: Canes Venatici
Distance from Earth: 37 million light years
Apparent Magnitude: 9.3
Coordinates: RA 13H 15M 49.3S DEC 42 deg 01 min 45/0 sec
Actual Size: 98,000 light years in diameter
Apparent Dimensions: 12.6 arc-minutes x 7.2 arc-minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Environmental Data
Date: April 20, 2021 Start Time: 8:52PM End Time: 2:36AM SQM: 16.11
Moon Age: 8.1 days Moonset: 2:35AM Moon Illumination: 57.3%
Temperature: 56 degrees F Humidity: 70% Dew Point: 46 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear
Comment: Installed wind shield on West side of observatory due to moderate winds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: 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: Platesolve2 Rotator/Control: Pegasus Unity Platform
Imaging Status
Imaging Software: Sequence Generated Focus HFR 3.12 Platesolve: Success on 3rd attempt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guide Scope Data
Telescope: Stellarvue SV90 refractor Camera: Lodestar X2 Focuser: Optec DirectSync SVX30
Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip Software: PHD2 Exposure: 3 sec Binning: 1x1 Tracking Result: 0.5 to 0.9 arc-seconds RMS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Images Taken
Number of light frames: 159 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: Unity Gain
Camera Temperature: -10 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Total Integration Time: 5.3 hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of flat frames: 52 Duration: 0.13 seconds Gain: Unity Gain
Camera Temperature: -10 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Flat Field Illumination: All-Pro 'Spike-a-Flat Field standard' illuminated panel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Dark frames: 50 (from library) Duration: 2 minutes Gain: Unity Gain
Camera Temperature: -10 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Bias frames: 50 (from library) Duration: 0.001 seconds Gain: Unity Gain
Camera Temperature: -10 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, MultiscaleLinearTransform to sharpen, CurvesTransformation for saturation, StarReduction script.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
Click Below Image for Full Size:
Click to Return to Home Page