NGC 3147
Also Known as: PGC 30019, UGC 5532
Object Type: Spiral Galaxy
Constellation: Draco
Distance from Earth: 130 million light years
Apparent Magnitude: 10.6
Coordinates: RA 10H 16M 53.9504 Sec DEC 73 deg 24 min 02.695 sec
Actual Size: 176,000 light years
Apparent Dimensions: 3.9 arcminutes x 3.5 arcminutes
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Environmental Data
Date: June 9, 2026 Start Time: 9:27 PM End Time: 3:00 AM SQM: 17.81
Moon Age: 23 days Moonrise: 1:33 AM Moon Illumination: 41.3%
Temperature: 63 degrees F Humidity: 61% Dew Point: 49.5 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear, breezy
Comment:
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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 3.79 Platesolve: Success on 3th 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: 0.48 t0 1.0 arcseconds RMS
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Images Taken
Number of light frames (LUM): 59 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Number of light frames (Red): 25 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Number of light frames (green): 25 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Number of light frames (Blue): 25 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: 0 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 10.0
Total Integration Time: 4.47 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, BLUE sets. Used Interation tool with parameters to remove satellite trails on all color channels.
Linear - Background extraction, Color correction, deconvolution, noise reduction:
LUM: GraXpert, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator
RED/GREEN/BLUE GradientCorrection, ChannelCombine to create color image using only Red/Green/Blue, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator, Image Solver script, SpectroPhotometricColorCalibration
Non-Linear:
LUM: MultiscaleAdaptiveStretch
Color:MultiscaleAdaptiveStretch
ImageBlend script to combine LUM and COLOR masters, GAME script to isolate galaxy, CurvesTransformation to increase color saturation off galaxy and darken background, MultiScaleLinearTransform to sharpen, DynamicCrop
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Notes: I am finding that there are a lot of satellite trails in my images. I have tried to adjust the 'Integration' process in PixInsight with some success. I also found that Seti-Astro's SASpro cosmic clarity satellite trail removal tool works really well, and it will do batch operations.
Click Below Image for Full Size:
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