NGC 6643
Also Known as:
Object Type: Spiral Galaxy
Constellation: Draco
Distance from Earth: 78 million light years
Apparent Magnitude: 11.7
Coordinates: RA 18H 19M 46.41 Sec DEC 74 deg 34 min 06.10 sec
Actual Size: 86,300 light years
Apparent Dimensions: 3.32 arcminutes x 1.63 arcminutes
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Environmental Data
Date: June 4, 2026 Start Time: 9:26 PM End Time: 2:05 AM SQM: 17.47
Moon Age: 18.1 days Moonrise: 0:14 AM Moon Illumination: 87.7%
Temperature: 72.7 degrees F Humidity: 40% Dew Point: 46.8 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear
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 4.96 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 & 2 sec Binning: 1x1 Tracking Result: 0.5 t0 1.0 arcseconds RMS
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Images Taken
Number of light frames (LUM): 37 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): 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: 2/5 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, 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, BlemishBlaster to remove artifact
RED/GREEN/BLUE DynamicCrop to trim, GraXpert, ChannelCombine to create color image using only Red/Green/Blue, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator, Image Solver script, SpectroPhotometricColorCalibration, BlemishBlaster to remove artifact
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, 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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