Observation Log - October 4, 2000

Observation Log - October 4, 2000 - Tinton Falls, NJ

NGC185, a galaxy in Cassiopeia, magnitude 9.2, dimensions 12'.0 x 10'.0, surface brightness 13.6 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 used. This composite was created from 41 images with a total integration time of 41 minutes. Images were processed in AstroArt with dark frame and flat fields and then composited. Thhat image was then moved into MaxIm for a final contrast adjustment. Images were taken between 11:19 and 12:09 a.m., the morning of October 4, 2000.

NGC147, a galaxy in Cassiopeia, magnitude 9.5, dimensions 13'.0 x 8'.0, surface brightness 14.2 mag/sq arcmin. As you can see from the numbers, this galaxy is very large and very dim. 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 used. This composite was created from 46 images with a total integration time of 46 minutes. Images were processed in AstroArt with dark frame and flat fields and then composited. That image was then moved into MaxIm for a final contrast adjustment. Images were taken between 12:13 and 1:08 a.m., the morning of October 4, 2000.

NGC1342, an open cluster in Perseus, magnitude 6.7, diameter 14'. 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 used. This composite was created from 17 images with a total integration time of 17 minutes. Images were processed in AstroArt with dark frame and flat fields and then composited. That image was processed with a light MED filter, then moved into MaxIm for a final contrast adjustment. Images were taken between 1:28 and 2:05 a.m., the morning of October 4, 2000.

M38, an open cluster in Auriga, magnitude 6.4, diameter 15', distance is 4,200 light years. This is a mosaic created from two panels (north and south), each of which was made from 10 1-minute exposures. 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. Images were processed in AstroArt with dark frame and flat fields and then composited and the mosaic was created. That image was moved into MaxIm for a Digital Development filter (FFT, low-pass, mild) and a final contrast adjustment. Images were taken between 2:19 and 2:45 a.m., the morning of October 4, 2000.

NGC2129, an open cluster in Gemini, magnitude 6.7, diameter 7'. This is a composite created from 9 1-minute exposures. 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. Images were processed in AstroArt with dark frame and flat fields, composited, and processed with a weak MED filter. The resulting image was moved into MaxIm for a final contrast adjustment. Images were taken between 3:26 and 3:36 a.m., the morning of October 4, 2000.

NGC2158, an open cluster in Gemini, magnitude 8.6, diameter 5'. This is a composite created from 14 1-minute exposures. 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. Images were processed in AstroArt with dark frame and flat fields, and composited. The resulting image was moved into MaxIm for a Digital Development filter (kernel, low-pass) and a final contrast adjustment. Images were taken between 3:43 and 3:58 a.m., the morning of October 4, 2000.