NGC 2854, NGC 2856, NGC 2857 Galaxies

Also Known as: ARP 285, UGC 4995 (NGC 2854), ARP 285, UGC 4997 (NGC 2856), Arp 1, PGC 26666, UGC 5000 (NGC 2587)

Object Type: Spiral Galaxies

Constellation: Ursa Major

Distance from Earth: 127 million light years (NGC 2854), 121 million light years (NGC 2856), 225 million light years (NGC 2587)

Apparent Magnitude: 13.8 (NGC 2854), 13.2 (NGC 2856), 12.3 (NGC 2857)

Coordinates: RA 09H 24M 02.9S DEC 49 deg 12 min 14 sec (NGC 2854), RA 09H 24M 16.2S DEC 49 deg 14 min 57 sec (NGC 2856), RA 09H 24M 37.698S DEC 49 deg 21 min 25.69 sec (NGC 2857)

Actual Size: 47,280 light years (NGC 2854), 42,900 light years (NGC 2856), 111,264 light years (NGC 2857)

Apparent Dimensions: 1.28 arcminutes x 0.56 arcminutes (NGC 2854), 1.22 arcminutes x 0.58 arcminutes (NGC 2856), 1.7 arcminutes x 1.43 arcminutes (NGC 2857)

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Environmental Data

Date: March 18, 2026     Start Time: 7:54 PM     End Time: 3.11 AM     SQM: 17.07

Moon Age: 28.9 days     Moonrise: 5:52AM     Moon Illumination: 0.5%

Temperature: 29.8 degrees F    Humidity: 41%    Dew Point: 9 degrees F

Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790    Sky Condition: Clear

Comment: Clouds starting to roll in after 3AM

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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 4.11     Platesolve: Success on 3rd attempt    

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Guide Scope Data

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

Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip    Software: PHD2    Exposure: 1 sec    Binning: 1x1    Tracking Result: 0.44 to 0.56 arc-seconds RMS

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Images Taken

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

Number of light frames (Red): 30        Duration: 2 minutes        Gain: 100        

Number of light frames (green): 30        Duration: 2 minutes        Gain: 100        

Number of light frames (Blue: 30        Duration: 2 minutes        Gain: 100        

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

Total Integration Time: 6.33 hours

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Number of flat frames (LUM): 0        Duration: 0.12        Gain:100        

Number of flat frames (Red): 0        Duration: 0.38        Gain: 100        

Number of flat frames (Green): 0        Duration: 0.26        Gain: 100        

Number of flat frames (Blue): 0        Duration: 0.49        Gain: 100        

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: 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 GraXpert, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator
RED/GREEN/BLUE GraXpert, ChannelCombine to create color image using only Red/Green/Blue, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator, ImageSolve, SpectroPhotometricColorCalibration LUM: MultiscaleAdaptiveStretch
Color:MultiscaleAdaptiveStretch
ImageBlend script to combine LUM and COLOR masters, GAME script to isdolate each galaxy, CurvesTransformation to increase contrast of galaxies, MultiScaleLinear transform to sharpen, DynamicCrop

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Notes:

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