NGC 262 and NGC 266

Also Known as: Markarian 348, UGC 499, PGC 2855 (NGC262), UGC 508, PGC 2901 (NGC 266)

Object Type: Spiral Galaxies

Constellation: Andromeda (NGC 262), Pisces (NGC 266)

Distance from Earth: 213.3 million light years (NGC 262), 197 million light years (NGC 266)

Apparent Magnitude: 13.06 (NGC 262), 12.54 (NGC 266)

Coordinates: RA 00H 48M 47.14S DEC 31 deg 57 min 25.085 sec (NGC 262), RA 00H 49M 47.81S DEC 32 deg 16 min 39.807 sec (NGC 266)

Actual Size: 99,249 light years x 93,313 light years (NGC 262), 223,150 light years (NGC 266)

Apparent Dimensions: 2.1 arc minutes x 1.9 arcminutes (NGC 262), 3.0 arcmintes x 2.9 arcminutes (NGC 266)

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Environmental Data

Date: October 22 & 23, 2025     Start Time: 6:55PM / 6:49PM     End Time: 8:14PM / 3:00AM     SQM: 18.17 / 17.9

Moon Age: 1.8 days (Oct 23)    Moonset: 6:01PM    Moon Illumination: 4.0%

Temperature: 56.7 degrees F / 54 degrees F    Humidity: 66% / 58%    Dew Point: 42.1 degrees F / 42.8 degrees F

Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790    Sky Condition: Skattered clouds

Comment: Started imaging NGC 262-266 on Oct 22 however only imaged for 1 hour before clouds rolled in. Resumed imaging NGC 262-266 on Oct 23. Imaged for about 1 hour before more clouds. Clouds cleared after an hour so I resumed imaging.

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Imaging Scope Data

Mount: iOptron CEM120     Camera: ZWO ASI2600 monochrome     Focuser: Optec QuickSync FT20

Telescope: Celestron 11 inch SCT Edge   Focal Length: 2800mm

Focal Reducer/Field Flattener: None     Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip

Filter Wheel : ZWO EFW 7 position 2 inch  Filter(s): Baader Lum CMOS optimized 2 inch, Baader RED CMOS optimized 2 inch, Baader GREEN CMOS optimized 2 inch, Baader BLUE CMOS optimized 2 inch

Rotator: Pegasus Falcon 2     Power Control: Pegasus Ultimate Powerbox V2  

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 3.31 / 3.46     Platesolve: Success on 3rd attempt (Oct 22) and 2nd attempt (Oct 23)    

Guide Scope Data

Telescope: Stellarvue SVX130 refractor    Camera: ZWO ASI290 mono     Focuser: Optec DirectSync SV35

Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip    Software: PHD2    Exposure: 2 sec    Binning: 1x1   Tracking Result: 0.6 arcseconds RMS

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Images Taken

Number of light frames (LUM): 15/75        Duration: 2 minutes        Gain: 100        

Number of light frames (Red): 17/47        Duration: 2 minutes        Gain: 100        

Number of light frames (Green): 35        Duration: 2 minutes        Gain: 100        

Number of light frames (Blue: 35        Duration: 2 minutes        Gain: 100        

Camera Temperature: -10 degrees C        Binning: 1x1        F-Stop: 10.0        

Total Integration Time: 7.4 hours

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Number of flat frames (LUM): 25        Duration: 0.12        Gain:100        

Number of flat frames (Red): 25        Duration: 0.38        Gain: 100        

Number of flat frames (Green): 25        Duration: 0.26        Gain: 100        

Number of flat frames (Blue): 25        Duration: 0.49        Gain: 100        

Flat Field Illumination: All-Pro 'Spike-a-Flat Field standard' illuminated panel set to 75%

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Number of Dark frames: 50 (from library)       Duration: 2 minutes        Gain: 100        

Number of Bias frames: 50 (from library)      Duration: 0.001 seconds        Gain: 100        

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Imaging Processing

Imaging Processing Software: PixInsight

Processes utilized: Linear - calibration/integration: For each of the LUM, RED, GREEN, and BLUE lights: Flats ImageCalibration with Master Bias, Flat ImageIntegration, Images ImageCalibration with Flat Master & Dark Master, SubFrameSelector
StarAlign all calibrated lights using best LUM image as reference, ImageIntegration of each of the LUM, RED, GREEN, and BLUE sets

Linear - Background extraction, Color correction, deconvolution, noise reduction:
LUM DynamicCrop, GraXpert, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator
RED/GREEN/BLUE DynamicCrop, GraXpert, ChannelCombination to create color image using only Red/Green/Blue, ImageSolve, SpectroPhotometricColorCalibration, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator

Non-Linear: LUM: GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch script, CurvesTransformation.
COLOR: GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch script, CurvesTransformation to enhance saturation
ImageBlend to add Lum and Color images, CurvesTransform to increase saturation, BlurXterminator to redcue stars, DynamicCrop.

Notes:

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