Observation Log - May 3, 2000 - Coyle Field, NJ

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M81, a Spiral Galaxy in Ursa Major, magnitude 6.9, dimensions 26'.9 x 14'.1, distance is 4.5 million light years. This is a mosaic that was created using the f/6.3 focal reducer, giving an effective focal ratio of f/4. This mosaic was made from 44 unguided exposures for a total integration time of 35 minutes. It was processed with dark frame subtraction, flat field, then compositing the top and bottom parts separately, then Digital Development (Kernel low-pass), a contrast matching adjustment, then mosaic assembly, and finally a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 12:21 a.m. and 2:05 a.m. the morning of the 3rd.

NGC3486, a spiral galaxy in Leo Minor, magnitude 10.3, diameter 6'.9. This was taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, giving an effective focal ratio of f/4. The image was made from 13 exposures for a total integration time of 37 minutes. It was processed with dark frame subtraction, flat field, then compositing, Digital Development (FFT, low-pass, mild) and finally a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 10:35 p.m. and 11:52 p.m. the evening of the 2nd. Note the little galaxy at the top left corner, and what are likely two more galaxies in the bottom right quarter.

NGC4631/4627, the Whale Galaxy, an irregular galaxy in Canes Venatici, magnitude 9.3, dimensions 15'.1, and its companion, NGC 4627, is magnitude 12.3, dim 2'.7. This was taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, giving an effective focal ratio of f/4. The image was made from 35 exposures for a total integration time of 37 minutes. It was processed with dark frame subtraction, flat field, then compositing, Maximum Entropy Deconvolution and finally a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 2:38 a.m. and 3:36 a.m. the morning of the 3rd. Here is another version of this image, the same processing was used, except the image was enlarged by 50%.