PHOTOGRAPH #144 · galaxies
The Triplets in Leo
Randal Healey · Utahopia Observatory
I thought I would give this famous group another try with my 103mm refractor.
This group is popular in the northern spring. Famous as the Leo Triplet, the three magnificent galaxies gather in one field of view. they can be introduced individually as NGC 3628, M66, and M65. All three are large spiral galaxies but they tend to look dissimilar because their galactic disks are tilted at different angles to our line of sight. NGC 3628 is seen edge-on, with obscuring dust lanes cutting across the plane of the galaxy, while the disks of M66 and M65 are both inclined enough to show off their spiral structure. Gravitational interactions between galaxies in the group have also left telltale signs, including the warped and inflated disk of NGC 3628 and the drawn out spiral arms of M66. This region spans about one degree (two full moons) on the sky. The field covers over 500 thousand light-years at the trio's estimated distance of 30 million light-years. I hope you enjoy.
Original description & acquisition details ↗This group is popular in the northern spring. Famous as the Leo Triplet, the three magnificent galaxies gather in one field of view. they can be introduced individually as NGC 3628, M66, and M65. All three are large spiral galaxies but they tend to look dissimilar because their galactic disks are tilted at different angles to our line of sight. NGC 3628 is seen edge-on, with obscuring dust lanes cutting across the plane of the galaxy, while the disks of M66 and M65 are both inclined enough to show off their spiral structure. Gravitational interactions between galaxies in the group have also left telltale signs, including the warped and inflated disk of NGC 3628 and the drawn out spiral arms of M66. This region spans about one degree (two full moons) on the sky. The field covers over 500 thousand light-years at the trio's estimated distance of 30 million light-years. I hope you enjoy.
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