Astral Imaging at Dogwood Ridge Observatory

Latitude: 37°48'51.0" N"
Longitude:78°23'41.0"W
Scottsville, Virginia 24590
 

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IC 342 Color Corrected

Image Information

From SEDS.org

"Discovered by Denning in 1895.

IC 342 was discovered in 1895 by W.F. Denning. Edwin P. Hubble suspected it as a member of the Local Group, but later observations showed that it is at a distance of at least about 6, perhaps more probably 10 million light-years.

IC 342 lies at low galactic latitude, only 10.5 degrees from the Galactic Equator, or the Milky Way's disc plane. Therefore, it is heavily obscured by interstellar matter of the Milky Way; recent estimates give an extinction of about 2.4 magnitudes; without this extinction, this galaxy would be among the brightest in the sky, and certainly have been discovered much earlier.

IC 342 forms a group with some large and many dwarf galaxies, the so-called Maffei 1 group, or IC 342 group, or sometimes called IC 342/Maffei group. It is one of two dominating members of that group, the other being elliptical galaxy Maffei 1, which is even more obscurred and was thus only discovered in 1968.

 

 

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This image is compiled from 22 - 20 minute luminance images for a total of 7-1/3  hours.  The RGB data was acquired on December 1 and 3, 2010. The RGB data consists of 12 - 20 minute images each of red, green and blue binned 2x2.  Total data set is 19-1/3 hours. All data was acquired using MaxImDl/CCD version 5 using ACP.   Images were calibrated and De-Bloomed in MaxIm using Ron Wodaski's De-Bloomer plug-in. All images aligned,  averaged combined, 5 iterations of Regularized Lucy Richardson de-convolution, and histogram adjusted at 32 bit depth using  Pix Insight version 1.61.   The master images were combined and registered in Pix Insight. Photoshop CS 4 was used to create the web version JPGs.

Equipment and Location Information

Date November 27-28, 2010 RGB Data December 1 & 3, 2010
Location Dogwood Ridge Observatory
Optics OGS 12.5" RC
Mount Astro Physics AP1200GTO
Camera SBIG ST10XME/AO8
Filters Baader LRGB 1.25" mounted
Conditions Temperature middle  20s -  mid 30s with very moderate  seeing. Transparency good to moderate.

    
  Last Modified :01/23/09 03:40 AM