Messier 81 (M81) and Messier 82 (M82)
Common Name: Bode's Galaxy (M81) and Cigar Galaxy (M82)
Also Known as: NGC 3031 (M81) and NGC 3034 (M82)
Object Type: Grand Design Spiral Galaxy (M81) and Irregular Galaxy (M82)
Constellation: Ursa major
M81 Distance from Earth: 11.8 million light years
M82 Distance from Earth: 11.4 – 12.4 million light years
M81 Apparent Magnitude: 6.94
M82 Apparent Magnitude: 8.41
M81 Coordinates: : RA 09H 55M 33.2S DEC 69 deg 03 min 55 sec
M82 Coordinates: RA 09H 55M 52.2S DEC 69 deg 49 min 47 sec
M81 Actual Size:: 92,000 light years in diameter... M82 Actual Size:: 37,000 light years in diameter.
M81 Apparent Dimensions:: 26.9 arc-minutes x 14.1 arc-minutes ... M82 Apparent Dimensions:: 11.2 arc-minutes x 4.3 arc-minutes
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Environmental Data
Date: March 29, 2021 Start Time: 8:21 PM End Time: 12:04 AM SQM: 19.41
Moon Age: 16.6 days Moonrise: 9:00PM Moon Illumination: 96.3%
Temperature: 51 degrees F Humidity: 45% Dew Point:
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear
Comment:
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Imaging Scope Data
Mount: iOptron CEM120 Camera: ZWO ASI071 OSC Focuser: Optec DirectSync SV35
Telescope: Stellarvue SVX130 refractor Focal Length: 910mm
Focal Reducer/Field Flattener: Field Flattener Filter: None
Rotator: Pegasus Falcon Power Control: None 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 1.2 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: 2 sec Binning: 1x1 Tracking Result: 0.43 to 0.87 arc-seconds RMS
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Images Taken
Number of light frames: 192 Duration: 1 minute Gain: Unity Gain
Camera Temperature: 0 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Total Integration Time: 3.2 hours
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Number of flat frames: 50 Duration: 0.08 seconds Gain: Unity Gain
Camera Temperature: 0 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: 1 minute Gain: Unity Gain
Camera Temperature: 0 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
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Number of Bias frames: 50 (from library) Duration: 0.001 seconds Gain: Unity Gain
Camera Temperature: 0 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, MultiscaleLinearTransform for sharpening, CurvesTransformation
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Notes:
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