Messier 97 (M97) and Messier 108 (M108)
M97 Also Known as: Owl Nebula, NGC 3587
M108 Also Known as: Surfboard Galaxy, NGC 3556
M97 Object Type: Planetary Nebula
M108 Object Type: Barred Spiral Galaxy
Constellation: Ursa Major
M97 Distance from Earth: 2,030 light years
M108 Distance from Earth: 45.9 million light years
M97 Apparent Magnitude: 9.9
M108 Apparent Magnitude: 10.7
M97 Coordinates: RA 11H 14M 47.734S DEC 55 deg 01 min 08.5 sec
M108 Coordinates: RA 11H 11M 31.0S DEC 55 deg 40 min 27 sec
M97 Actual Size:: 3 light years in diameter... M108 Actual Size:: 110,000 light years in diameter.
M97 Apparent Dimensions:: 13.4 arc-minutes x 3.3 arc-minutes ... M108 Apparent Dimensions:: 8.7 arc-minutes x 2.2 arc-minutes
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Environmental Data
Date: March 19, 2023 Start Time: 7:47 PM End Time: 2:11AM SQM: 17.36
Moon Age: 27.2 days Moonset: 4:28PM Moon Illumination: 6.5%
Temperature: 34 degrees F Humidity: 55% Dew Point: 20 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear, breezy
Comment: Sky mirky after midnight
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Imaging Scope Data
Mount: iOptron CEM120 Camera: ZWO ASI2600 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: 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 1.63 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: Software: PHD2 Exposure: 2 sec Binning: 1x1 Tracking Result: 0.55 arc-seconds RMS
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Images Taken
Number of light frames: 175 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Total Integration Time: 5.83 hours
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Number of flat frames: 50 Duration: 0.1 seconds Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -20 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: -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: DynamicBackgroundExtraction, ImageSolve, SpectroPhotometricColorCalibration, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator
Non-Linear: GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch script, MultiscaleLinearTransform for sharpening, CurvesTransformation, MultiscaleLinearTransform for smoothing, HistogramTransformation.
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Notes:
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