Messier 71 (M71)

Also Known as: NGC 6838

Object Type: Globular Cluster

Constellation: Sagitta

Distance from Earth: 13,000 light years

Apparent Magnitude: 6.1

Coordinates: RA 19H 53M 46.49S DEC 18 deg 46 min 45.1 sec

Actual Size: 27 light years in diameter

Apparent Dimensions: 7.2 arc-minutes

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Environmental Data

Date: October 4, 2023     Start Time: 7:56PM     End Time: 11:48PM     SQM: 15.11

Moon Age: 20.1 days     Moonrise: 9:33PM     Moon Illumination: 71.7%

Temperature: 72 degrees F    Humidity: 81%    Dew Point: 66 degrees F

Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790    Sky Condition: Clear

Comment: Late in the night fog rolled in.

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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 2.89     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: 1 sec    Binning: 1x1    Exposure: 2 sec    Binning: 1x1    Tracking Result: 0.55 arc-seconds RMS

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Images Taken

Number of light frames: 103        Duration: 2 minutes        Gain: 100        

Camera Temperature: -10 degrees C        Binning: 1x1        F-Stop: 7.0        

Total Integration Time: 3.43 hours

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Number of flat frames: 50       Duration: 0.05 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: GradientCorrection, ImageSolve, SpectroPhotometricColorCalibration, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator

Non-Linear: GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch script, CurvesTransformation for saturation, HistgramTransformation, DynamciCrop

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Notes:

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