NGC 6015

Also Known as:

Object Type: Spiral Galaxy

Constellation: Draco

Distance from Earth: 55 million light years

Apparent Magnitude: 11.2

Coordinates: RA 15H 51M 49 Sec DEC 62 deg 13 min 54 sec

Actual Size: 93,000 light years

Apparent Dimensions: 5.81 arcminutes x 2.57 arcminutes

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Environmental Data

Date: June 8, 2026     Start Time: 9:30 PM    End Time: 2:27 AM    SQM: 18.85

Moon Age: 23 days     Moonrise: 1:33 AM     Moon Illumination: 41.3%

Temperature: 63.7 degrees F    Humidity: 58%    Dew Point: 48.6 degrees F

Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790    Sky Condition: High thin clouds to start, clearing later

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 3.44     Platesolve: Success on 2nd 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 sec    Binning: 1x1    Tracking Result: 0.42 to 0.6 arcseconds RMS

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Images Taken

Number of light frames (LUM): 60        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: 3.77 hours

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Number of flat frames (LUM): 25        Duration: 0.11        Gain:100        

Number of flat frames (Red): 25        Duration: 0.36        Gain: 100        

Number of flat frames (Green): 25        Duration: 0.23        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

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Number of Dark frames: 50 (from library)       Duration: 2/5 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, Seti-Astro SASpro cosmic clarity satellite trail removal stand-alone, SubFrameSelector
StarAlign all calibrated lights using best LUM image as reference, ImageIntegration of each of the LUM, RED, GREEN, BLUE sets

Linear - Background extraction, Color correction, deconvolution, noise reduction:
LUM DynamicCrop to trim, GraXpert, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator
RED/GREEN/BLUE DynamicCrop to trim, GraXpert, 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, HistogramTransformation to darken background, CurvesTransformation to increase color saturation, MultiScaleLinearTransform to sharpen

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Notes: I am finding that there are a lot of satellite trails in my images, tonight was no exception. Many trails especially earlier in the night. I used Seti-Astro's SASpro cosmic clarity satellite trail removal tool after calibrating each 'light'.

Click Below Image for Full Size:

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