The Leo Triplet (M66 group)

Posted by HrAstro

The Leo Triplet

Other avalible sizes of this photograph:
1024 x 634 px
1680 x 1040 px

Equipment and other photo info:
Picture taken on April 8th, 2010.
Celestron C10N, MPCC, QHY8, 45x2min Guiding with ED80 + QHY5 guiding camera (PHD Guiding)
Mount: EQ6 Vis upgreded to EQ6 SynScan

Processing software: FixFits, Nebulosity, PixInsight LE, Photoshop CS2

Object info:
This small group of galaxies consists of the Messier objects M65 (NGC 3623) and M66 (NGC 3627) as well as the edge-on spiral NGC 3628. These three galaxies, the heart of the M66 group, form a beautiful and photogenic group which is frequently referred to as the Leo Triplett; Halton Arp has included this group as number 317 in his Catalogue of Peculiar Galaxies (M66 is also Arp 16). Lying at a distance of some 35 million light years, it is probably physically related to the M96 group.

More information about this object at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markarian%27s_Chain

galleries, deepsky moon planets widefield
back to top