Messier 66 (M66)
Also Known as: NGC 3627
Object Type: Spiral Galaxy
Constellation: Leo
Distance from Earth: 36 million light years
Apparent Magnitude: 8.9
Coordinates: RA 11H 20M 15S DEC 12 deg 59 min 30 sec
Actual Size: 95,000 light years in diameter
Apparent Dimensions: 9.1 arc-minutes x 4.2 arc-minutes
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Environmental Data
Date: March 29, 2022 Start Time: 8:37PM End Time: 3:10AM SQM: 19.13
Moon Age: 26.8 days Moonrise: 5:41AM Moon Illumination: 8.4%
Temperature: 37 degrees F Humidity: 45% Dew Point: 13 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear, wind gusts
Comment: PHD2 calibration good. Used PHD2 Guiding Assistant and updated parameters. Installed wind shields on West side of observatory.
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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 3.02 Platesolve: Success on 2nd attempt
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Guide Scope Data
Telescope: Stellarvue SVX130 refractor Camera: ZWO ASI290 Focuser: Optec DirectSync SV35
Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip Software: PHD2 Exposure: 2 sec Binning: 1x1 Tracking Result: 0.8 to 1.4 arc-seconds RMS due to wind spikes.
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Images Taken
Number of light frames: 157 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Total Integration Time: 5.23 hours
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Number of flat frames: 50 Duration: 0.15 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: DynamicCrop, DynamicBackgroundExtraction, ImageSolve, SpectroPhotometricColorCalibration, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator
Non-Linear: GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch script, HistogramTransformation, MultiscaleLinearTransform for sharpening, DynamicCrop
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Notes:
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