Messier 73 (M73)
Also Known as: NGC 6994
Object Type: Open Cluster - Asterism of 4 stars
Constellation: Aquarius
Distance from Earth: 2,500 Light years
Apparent Magnitude: 9.0
Coordinates: RA 20H 58M 54S DEC -12deg 38min 0sec
Actual Size: 20 light years
Apparent Dimensions: 2.8 arc-minutes
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Environmental Data
Date: September 20, 2023 Start Time: 8:56PM End Time: 11:30PM SQM: 19.75
Moon Age: 5.4 days Moonset: 9:22PM Moon Illumination: 30.0%
Temperature: 62 degrees F Humidity: 81% Dew Point: 56 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Mirky
Comment: Too low in trees at 11:25PM
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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 3.32 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: 1 sec Binning: 1x1 Tracking Result: 0.9 arc-seconds RMS
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Images Taken
Number of light frames: 71 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -10 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Total Integration Time: 2.37 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
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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, CurvesTransformation, DynamicCrop, StarReduction script.
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Notes:
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