NGC 869 & NGC 884
Common Name: Double Cluster in Perseus
Also Known as: Caldwell 14, h Persei (NGC 869), x Persei (NGC 884)
Object Type: Open Clusters
Constellation: Perseus
Distance from Earth: 7,460 light years (NGC 869), 7,660 light years (NGC 884)
Apparent Magnitude: 3.7 (NGC 869), 3.8 (NGC 884)
Coordinates: RA 02H 19.1M 0S DEC 57 deg 09 min 0 sec
Actual Size: 33.15 light years (NGC 869)
Apparent Dimensions: 60 arc-minutes (combined NGC 869 & NGC 884)
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Environmental Data
Date: December 18, 2020 Start Time: 6:58PM End Time: 11:32PM SQM: 19.33
Moon Age: 4.4 days Moonset: 8:35PM Moon Illumination: 20.6%
Temperature: 28 degrees F Humidity: 80% Dew Point: 26 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear
Comment:
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Imaging Scope Data
Mount: iOptron CEM120 Camera: ZWO ASI071 OSC Focuser: Optec DirectSync SVX30
Telescope: Stellarvue SV90 refractor Focal Length: 504mm
Focal Reducer/Field Flattener: 0.8 Filter: None
Rotator: Manual Power Control: Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip
Imaging Software
Mount: iOptron Commander Focuser: Optec FocusLynx Commander
Imaging: Sequence Generator Pro Platesolve: Platesolve 2 Rotator/Control:
Imaging Status
Imaging Software: Sequence Generated Focus HFR 1.18 Platesolve: Good on 6th attempt
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Guide Scope Data
Telescope: Stellarvue SVX130 refractor Camera: Lodestar X2 Focuser: Optec DirectSync SV35
Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip Software: PHD2 Tracking Result: 0.7 arc-seconds RMS
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Images Taken
Number of light frames: 45 Duration: 2 minutes Gain: Unity Gain
Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 5.6
Total Integration Time: 1.5 hours
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Number of flat frames: 50 Duration: 0.04 Gain: Unity Gain
Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 5.6
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: Unity Gain
Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 5.6
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Number of Bias frames: 50 (from library) Duration: 0.001 seconds Gain: Unity Gain
Camera Temperature: -20 degrees C Binning: 1x1 F-Stop: 5.6
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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: DynamicCrop, AutomaticBackgroundExtraction, AutoColor script, BlurXterminator
Non-Linear: HistogramTransformation, NoiseXterminator, EzStarReduction script, CurvesTransformation
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Notes: Tried different exposures. Took 120 images @ 30 seconds, 90 images @ 1minute and 45 images @ 2minutes. Compared the results and found the 2 minute exposures was the best.
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