Date: 1/5/2019
Description: M 78, also known as NGC 2068, is a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion. M78 is the brightest diffuse reflection nebula of a group of nebulae that includes NGC 2064, NGC 2067 and NGC 2071. This group belongs to the Orion B molecular cloud complex and is about 1,350 light-years distant from Earth M78 is easily found in small telescopes as a hazy patch and involves two stars of 10th and 11th magnitude [Ref: WikiPedia]
Sky Conditions: Clear skies with no moon, FWHM: 2.5 arc sec/pixel
Imaging: Exposure: 60min luminous (12x300sec) at 2x2bin and 60 min RGB each (12 x 300sec/ea.) at 2x2 bin using RGB filters
Guiding: ProTrac assisted guiding - no separate guiding being used
Equipment:
FLI 8300 CCD (LRGB filters), cooled to -30deg C
AT12RC at F8
Starlight Focuser
NOAG with StarlightXpress Lodestar II guide camera
Paramount ME Mount
SW:
SkyX, PixIsight - calibration with darks, flats, bias and color correction
Observatory site : Northern VA