NGC 4559
Also Known as: Caldwell 36, PGC 42002, UGC 7766
Object Type: Intermediate Spiral Galaxy
Constellation: Coma Berenices
Distance from Earth: 29 million light years
Apparent Magnitude: 10.4
Coordinates: RA 12H 35M 57.6285S DEC 27 deg 57 min 35.851 sec
Actual Size: 90,000 light years
Apparent Dimensions: 10.7 arc-minutes x 4.4 arc-minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Environmental Data
Date: May 2, 17, and 26, 2025 Start Time: 8:43PM, 9PM, and 9:21PM End Time: 11:14PM, 10:02PM, and 2:11AM SQM: 17.44, 16.81, 18.31
Moon Age:(May 26) 29.0 days Moonrise: 4:03AM Moon Illumination: 0.5%
Temperature: 61.7/65.7/57.2 degrees F Humidity: 72/69/76/% Dew Point: 52.5/76/69 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Scattered to dense clouds May 2 and May 17, Clear on May 26
Comment:Due to early clouds on May 2nd and May 17th, it took me three imaging sessions to acquire sufficient images to complete the imaging of NGC 4559.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Imaging Scope Data
Mount: iOptron CEM120 Camera: ZWO ASI2600 monochrome Focuser: Optec QuickSync FT20
Telescope: Celestron 11 inch SCT Edge Focal Length: 1960mm
Focal Reducer/Field Flattener: 0.7 focal reducer 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 4.22/3.36/2.9 Platesolve: Success on 2nd attempt
Guide Scope Data
Telescope: Stellarvue SVX130 refractor Camera: ZWO ASI290 Focuser: Optec DirectSync SV35
Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip Software: PHD2 Exposure: 2 sec Binning: 1x1 Exposure: 2 sec Binning: 1x1 Tracking Result: 0.68/0.71/0.55 arc-seconds RMS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Images Taken
Number of light frames (LUM): 93 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Number of light frames (Red): 33 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Number of light frames (green): 25 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Number of light frames (Blue: 32 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: 0 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Total Integration Time: 6.1 hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of flat frames (LUM): 40 Duration: 0.023 Gain:100
Number of flat frames (Red): 40 Duration: 0.073 Gain: 100
Number of flat frames (Green): 40 Duration: 0.043 Gain: 100
Number of flat frames (Blue): 40 Duration: 0.095 Gain: 100
Flat Field Illumination: All-Pro 'Spike-a-Flat Field standard' illuminated panel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 GradientCorrection, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator
RED/GREEN/BLUE GradientCorrection, LRGBCombination to create color image using only Red/Green/Blue, ImageSolve, SpectroPhotometricColorCalibration, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator
Non-Linear:
LUM: GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch script, MultiScaleLinearTransform to sharpen, HistogramTransform to darken background, DynamicCrop
COLOR: GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch script, CurvesTransformation to increase saturation, HistogramTransformation to darken background, Curvestranformation, DynamicCrop
ImageBlend script to combine LUM and COLOR masters, CurvesTransformation for Saturation, HistogramTransform to darken backgorund, GAME script on galaxy, HistogramTransform to darken background.
Notes:
Click Below Image for Full Size:
Click to Return to Home Page