NGC 6946
Common Name: Fireworks Galaxy
Also Known as: Caldwell 12, UGC 11597
Object Type: Intermediate Spiral Galaxy
Constellation: Boundary of Cepheus and Cygnus
Distance from Earth: 25.2 million light years
Apparent Magnitude: 9.6
Coordinates: RA 20H 34M 52.3S DEC 60 deg 09 min 14 sec
Actual Size: 87,300 light years in diameter.
Apparent Dimensions: 16 arc-minutes x 11.2 arc-minutes
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Environmental Data
Date: August 9, 2023 Start Time: 8:51PM End Time: 3:08AM SQM: 17.03
Moon Age: 23.2 days Moonset: 3:04PM Moon Illumination: 39.4%
Temperature: 75 degrees F Humidity: 74% Dew Point: 74 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear, haze from Canadian wild fires
Comment:
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Imaging Scope Data
Mount: iOptron CEM120 Camera: ZWO ASI2600 OSC Focuser: Optec QuickSync FT20
Telescope: Celestron 11 inch SCT Edge Focal Length: 1960mm
Focal Reducer/Field Flattener: 0.7 focal reducer Filter: None
Rotator: Pegasus Falcon rotator Power Control: Pegasus Ultimate Powerbox V2 Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip
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 2.82 Platesolve: Success on 3rd attempt
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Guide Scope Data
Telescope: Stellarvue SV90refractor Camera: ZWO ASI290 Focuser: Optec DirectSync SVX30
Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip Software: PHD2 Exposure: 2-3 sec Binning: 1x1 Tracking Result: 0.5 arc-seconds RMS
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Images Taken
Number of light frames: 86 Duration: 4 minutes Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -10 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Total Integration Time: 5.73 hours
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Number of flat frames: 50 Duration: 0.156 Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -10 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
Flat Field Illumination: All-Pro 'Spike-a-Flat Field standard' illuminated panel
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Number of Dark frames: 50 Duration: 4 minutes Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -10 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
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Number of Bias frames: 50 Duration: 0.001 seconds Gain: 100
Camera Temperature: -10 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 7.0
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Imaging Processing
Imaging Processing Software: PixInsight
Processes utilized: Linear - calibration/integration: Flats ImageCalibration with Master Bias, Flat ImageIntegration, Images ImageCalibration with Flat Master & Dark Master, Debayer, SubFrameSelector, StarAlign, ImageIntegration
Linear - Background extraction, Color correction, deconvolution, noise reduction: DynamicBackgroundExtraction, ImageSolve, SpectroPhotometricColorCalibration, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator
Non-Linear: GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch script, MultiscaleLinearTransform for sharpening, StarReduction script, HDRMultiScaleTransform, DynamicCrop
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Notes: Observatory computer locked-up around 11:15PM and had to restart using saved SGP sequence.
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