leotriplet_1680x1120

Equipment and other photo info:
Picture taken on April 2nd, 2011. Location: Petrova goda, Croatia, Europe SkyWatcher ED120/900, QHY8, TS OAG9mm, QHY5 guiding camera Exposure time: 12x600sec
Processing software: FixFits, Nebulosity, PixInsight LE, Photoshop CS5

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/Leo_Triplet