Messier 99 (M99)
Common Name: St Catherine's Wheel
Also Known as: NGC 4254, Coma Pinwheel, Virgo Cluster Pinwheel
Object Type: Unbarred Spiral Galaxy
Constellation: Coma Berenices
Distance from Earth: 55.7 million Light years
Apparent Magnitude: 10.4
Coordinates: RA 12H 18M 49.6S DEC 14deg 28min 59sec
Actual Size: 85,000 light years in diameter
Apparent Dimensions: 5.4 arc-minutes x 4.7 arc-minutes
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Environmental Data
Date: May 1, 2024 Start Time: 8:48PM End Time: 1:11AM SQM: 17.31
Moon Age: 22.1 days Moonrise: 11:55PM Moon Illumination: 50.5%
Temperature: degrees F Humidity: Dew Point: degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear
Comment:
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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 Rotator 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 2.88 Platesolve: Good 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: 2.5 sec Binning: 1x1 Tracking Result: 0.7 arc-seconds RMS
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Images Taken
Number of light frames: 120 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -10 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Total Integration Time: 4 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:U100
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: DynamicBackgroundExtraction, ImageSolve, SpectroPhotometricColorCalibration, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator
Non-Linear:
GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch script, MultiscaleLinearTransform for sharpening, CurvesTransformation, DynamicCrop
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Notes:
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