| Name | Leo Triplet |
| Designation(s) | Arp 317, M 66 Group, NGC 3628, M 65 |
| Object Type(s) | Galaxy |
| Relevant Catalog(s) | All (Chron), Arp, Messier, NGC |
| Arp Category | Groups of galaxies |
| Obs. Lat/Long | 42° 17', 073° 57' |
| Constellation | Leo |
| Date and Time Observed | 2024-01-22 20:11:00 |
| Instrument | 8" EdgeHD SCT |
| Camera | ASI294mc-Pro |
| Image Details | Right edge is 271.2 degrees E of N. Total integration time was 41m30s. Exposure 30s@305g, UV/IR Cut Filter, 87% moon. Darks subtracted, no flats. Dithered and recentered in SharpCap. No guiding.. |
| Description | This is a stunningly beautiful group of three spiral galaxies. M66 appears to be bent slightly by the attraction to M65, as does the edge-on NGC 3628. These galaxies are quite bright, distinctly visible even after 60 seconds of integration. I had chosen to observe this cluster both because of their brightness, and because they would be rising in the East when an 87% moon would have passed the meridian. Moonglow is responsible for the brown tinge. I have attached a "bonus" image which is a SeeStar 50 capture from a month earlier, during a very dark and clear morning. This is the best galaxy capture I've achieved with this $500 automated telescope, and demonstrates what it can achieve when conditions are "perfect". |
| Related Observations | M66 (2) |
| Catalog Links | |
