Messier 65, Messier 66 and NGC 3628
Object Information:
Messier 66 (lower left), Messier 65 (lower right) and NGC 3628 (top)
This group of spiral galaxies in the constellation of Leo each show slightly different orientations. NGC 3628, shown at the top, is oriented edge-on to us. NGC 3628 was discovered by William Herschel in 1784. Messier 66 and Messier 65 were both catalogued by Charles Messier on March 1, 1780.
All three galaxies can be seen visually, sometimes in the in the same field of view, with sufficient aperture. I have seen each of these galaxies through my Celestron 11" Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube.
Imaged at:
Desert Center, Riverside County, California
Equipment:
Optics - Takahashi Epsilon160,
Mount - Astro-Physics 900 GTO,
Camera - SBIG ST-2000XM with SBIG CFW-8A,
Guider - SBIG ST-237A
Guide Scope - Borg 76
Exposure Information:
December 28, 2003
Luminance - 35 min, R - 35 min., G - 20 min., B - 30 min.,
Image Processing Software:
Mira 6, Photoshop CS
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Jacobsen.
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