Observation Log - September 30, 2000

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

M15, (NGC7078), a globular cluster in Pegasus, magnitude 6.4, diameter 18'. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place. This is a composite made from 11 images for a total exposure time of 11 minutes. Images were first processed using AstroArt for dark frame removal and flat frames, then aligned and averaged. The image was transferred to MaxIm, and processed with a Digital Development filter (kernel, low-pass) and a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 9:05 and 9:27 p.m., the evening of September 29th, 2000.

NGC7741, a galaxy in Pegasus, magnitude 11.3, dimensions 4'.4 x 2'.9, surface brightness 13.8 mag/sq arcmin. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place. This is a composite made from 19 images for a total exposure time of 38 minutes. Images were first processed using AstroArt for dark frame removal and flat frames, then aligned and averaged and an adaptive high-pass filter was applied. The image was transferred to MaxIm, for the final contrast stretch. Images were taken between 12:04 and 12:45 a.m., the morning of September 30th, 2000.

NGC7674, (NGC7078), a galaxy in Pegasus, magnitude 13.2, diameter dimensions 1'.0 x 0'.9, surface brightness 12.6 mag/sq arcmin. This image shows several other galaxies, as identified by this finder chart. Here is some information on those other galaxies:
PGC71505, mag 15.3, 12" x 8"
PGC71507, mag 17.3, 6" x 3"
NGC7675, mag 14.9, 30" x 18"
Several other galaxies are visible as well, but they could not be identified by the SkyMap Pro software. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place. This is a composite made from 17 images for a total exposure time of 34 minutes. Images were first processed using AstroArt for dark frame removal and flat frames, then aligned and averaged. The image was transferred to MaxIm, and processed with a Digital Development filter (kernel, low-pass) and a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 10:54 and 11:31 p.m., the evening of September 29th, 2000.

NGC6838, a globular cluster in Sagitta, magnitude 8.3, diameter 7'.2. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place. This is a composite made from 21 images for a total integration time of 21 minutes. Images were first processed using AstroArt for dark frame removal and flat frames, then aligned and averaged. The image was transferred to MaxIm, and processed with a Digital Development filter (kernel, low-pass) and a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 7:42 and 8:05 p.m., the evening of September 29th, 2000.

NGC7006, a globular cluster in Delphinus, magnitude 10.2, diameter 2'.8. If you look closely, there are several faint galaxies in this image. Here is a finder chart for some of them, and some information on the individual galaxies:
PGC65907, mag 15.6, 36" x 18"
PGC65908, mag 16.1, 24" x 12"
PGC65937, mag 17.0
Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place. This is a composite made from 21 images for a total integration time of 21 minutes. Images were first processed using AstroArt for dark frame removal and flat frames, then aligned and averaged. The image was transferred to MaxIm, and processed with a Digital Development filter (kernel, low-pass) and a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 8:32 and 8:56 p.m., the evening of September 29th, 2000. Here's a lower-contrast version that shows a little more detail in the core.

Quasar 2237+030, also known as The Einstein Cross, a gravity-lensed quasar in Pegasus. The galaxy doing the lensing is toward the top and right of this image. This is at RA 22 40 30, DEC 03 21 30, and was verified with the AstroArt astrometry package. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place. This is a composite made from 12 images for a total integration time of 24 minutes. Images were first processed using AstroArt for dark frame removal and flat frames, then aligned and averaged. The image was transferred to MaxIm, and processed with a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 9:56 and 10:31 p.m., the evening of September 29th, 2000.

NGC2024 , also known as The Flame Nebula, a bright nebula in Orion. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place. This is a composite made from 8 images for a total integration time of 11 minutes. Images were first processed using AstroArt for dark frame removal and flat frames, then aligned and averaged. The image was transferred to MaxIm, and processed with a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 3:06 and 3:32 a.m., the morning of September 30th, 2000.

NGC1624 , a bright nebula in Perseus, magnitude 11.8, diameter 1'.9. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place. This is a composite made from 30 images for a total integration time of 60 minutes. Images were first processed using AstroArt for dark frame removal and flat frames, then aligned and averaged. The image was transferred to MaxIm, and processed with a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 3:54 and 5:01 a.m., the morning of September 30th, 2000.

M31, The Andromeda Galaxy, magnitude 3.4, dimensions 3 degrees by 1 degree, distance is 2.3 million light years. This is a mosaic made from 4 panels. Each panel is a composite made from 5 images for a total integration time of 10 minutes per panel. Images were first processed using AstroArt for dark frame removal and flat frames, then aligned and averaged. The image was transferred to MaxIm, the mosaic was created, then processed with a Digital Development filter (FFT, low-pass, hard) and a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 1:20 and 2:17 a.m., the morning of September 30th, 2000. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place. Here is a resampled smaller version of the same image. And here is a version with lower contrast to show more detail in the core of M31.

NGC1245, an open cluster in Perseus, magnitude 8.4, diameter 10'. This composite was made from 7 images for a total integration time of 13 minutes. Images were first processed using AstroArt for dark frame removal and flat frames, then aligned and averaged. The image was transferred to MaxIm, for the final contrast stretch. Images were taken between 2:36 and 2:51 a.m., the morning of September 30th, 2000. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place.

NGC1513, an open cluster in Perseus, magnitude 8.4, diameter 9'. This composite was made from 39 images for a total integration time of 39 minutes. Images were first processed using AstroArt for dark frame removal and flat frames, then aligned and averaged. The image was transferred to MaxIm, for the final contrast stretch. Images were taken between 5:18 and 6:06 a.m., the morning of September 30th, 2000. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place.