Observation Log - March 30, 2000 - Tinton Falls, NJ

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NGC4567/4568, the Siamese Twins galaxies in Virgo. NGC 4567 is on the right, magnitude given variously as 11.3 to 12.1, length 3'. NGC 4568 is on the left, magnitude 10.8 to 11.9, length 4'.6. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4. This is a composite of 42 images with a total integration time of 78 minutes.Images were processed with dark frame removal, flat frame, median filter, then compositing, MaxIm Digital Development (FFT low-pass, mild hardness), and finally a contrast stretch. Here is the same image without the Digital Development.) Images were taken between 10:34 p.m. the evening of the 29th, and 12:47 a.m. the morning of March 30, 2000. Tonight's project was an ultra-long (for me!) exposure on a fairly faint target. Here is another copy of the same image, this time with a very strong contrast enhancement to show the fainter edges of the galaxies. For reference, the two bright stars on the left of the galaxies are magnitude 10.83 and 11.97. The three brightest stars forming a slightly open "corner" on the right are 15.14, 14.95 and 13.47 (left, right, bottom.)