Occultation Moon-Mars 2025
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Environmental Data
Date: January 13, 2025 Start Time: 8:02PM End Time: 10:59M SQM: 18.78
Moon Age: 14.5 days Moonrise: 4:11PM Moon Illumination: 99.8%
Temperature: 34 degees F Humidity: 64% Dew Point: 23.4 degrees F
Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790 Sky Condition: Clear
Comment:
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Imaging Scope Data
Mount: iOptron CEM120 Camera: Nikon D7100 DSLR Focuser: Optec DirectSync SVX30
Telescope: Stellarvue SV90 refractor Focal Length: 630mm
Focal Reducer/Field Flattener: None Filter: None
Rotator: None Power Control: Pegasus Ultimate Powerbox V2 Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip
Imaging Software
Mount: iOptron Commander Focuser: Optec FocusLynx Commander
Imaging: None Platesolve: None Rotator/Control: None
Imaging Status
Imaging Software: None Focus Platesolve:
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Guide Scope Data
Telescope: None Camera: Focuser:
Dew Heater: Kendrick dew strip Software: Tracking Result:
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Images Taken
Number of light frames: 439 Duration: 1/100 second ISO: 200
Camera Temperature: Binning: F-Stop: 7.0
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Number of flat frames: Duration: Gain:
Camera Temperature: Binning: F-Stop:
Flat Field Illumination:
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Number of Dark frames: Duration: Gain:
Camera Temperature: Binning: F-Stop:
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Number of Bias frames: Duration: Gain:
Camera Temperature: Binning: F-Stop:
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Imaging Processing
Imaging Processing Software: PixInsight
Processes utilized:
RangeSelection to generate Moon mask. Clonestamp to remove Mars from the mask, CurvesTransformation to reduce saturation oof Moon, HDRMultiscaleTransform to increase dynamic range of Moon, CurvesTransformation to enhance Moon contrast,
Invert Mask to work on Mars, CurvesTransformation to increase saturation of Mars.
Used Cyberlink PowerDiector 15 to generate video.
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Notes: Weather forcast was for dense clouds until 10PM. Fortunately, the weathermman was wrong and clouds cleared at 8:45PM.
Attached Nikon D7100 DSLR to SV90 refactor using two extension tubes. Focuser set to 4.5 and Nikon D7100 distnce to focuser about 2 inches to achieve good focus.
Attached Feelworld 7 inch LCD to Nikon to assist with focus and to view each image taken. Used liveview to focus.
Tried several camera exposure settings but settled on 1/00 second ISO 200 - which overexposed the Moon, but did show Mars. Set intervalometer to 30 seconds.
Click Below Image for Full Size:
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