Sharpless 66 (Sh2-66)

Also Known as: Sh2-66

Object Type: Emission Nebula

Constellation: Aquila

Distance from Earth: 12,400 light years

Apparent Magnitude:

Coordinates: RA 18H 45M 29 Sec DEC-02 deg 00 min 03 sec

Actual Size:

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Environmental Data

Date: June 19, 2026     Start Time: 9:30 PM    End Time: 3:40 AM    SQM: 17.44

Moon Age: 5.1 days     Moonset: 00:07 AM     Moon Illumination: 27.2%

Temperature: 69.1 degrees F    Humidity: 65%    Dew Point: 57 degrees F

Location: Westport, Massachusetts 02790    Sky Condition: Clear.

Comment: Configured Sequence Generator Pro to use ASTAP (native)

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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, Baader Ha 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 2.72     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: 2 sec    Binning: 1x1    Tracking Result: 0.89-1.0 arc-seconds RMS

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Images Taken

Number of light frames (LUM): 10        Duration: 2 minutes        Gain: 100        

Number of light frames (Red): 20        Duration: 2 minutes        Gain: 100        

Number of light frames (green): 20        Duration: 2 minutes        Gain: 100        

Number of light frames (Blue): 20        Duration: 2 minutes        Gain: 100        

Number of light frames (Ha): 34        Duration: 5 minutes        Gain: 100        

Camera Temperature: 0 degrees C        Binning: 1x1        F-Stop: 10.0        

Total Integration Time: 4:83 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: 0.48        Gain: 100        

Number of flat frames (Ha): 25        Duration: 9.4        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, BLUE, Ha, and Oiii 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 , Ha and Oiii sets

Linear - Background extraction, Color correction, deconvolution, noise reduction:
LUM DynamicCrop, GraXpert, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator.
RED/GREEN/BLUE DynamicCrop, GraXpert, ChannelCombine to create color image using only Red/Green/Blue, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator, Image Solver script, SpectroPhotometricColorCalibration
Ha DynamicCrop, GraXpert, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator. StarXterminator to eliminate stars

Non-Linear: LUM: MultiscaleAdaptiveStretch
CombineRGBand Narrowband script to add Ha to RGB, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXterminator, MultiscaleAdaptiveStretch, CurvesTransformation, HistogramTrasnsformation to darken background

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Notes: Luminance not utilized in final image

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