The Leo Triplet (M65, M66, and NGC 3628)
This arrangement of galaxies in the constellation Leo is very interesting to observe and can be seen fairly easily in small scopes. M65 is the upper galaxy on the right side of the image, M66 is the lower one, and NGC 3628 is the longer vertically oriented galaxy on the left with the prominent dust lane. M65 and M66 are reasonably bright and obvious in my 8" reflector, but NGC 3628 is quite a bit dimmer and more easily visible with averted vision or when tapping the scope. No detail or dust lanes are visible in any of the galaxies in my 8". This image was taken with a thin crescent moon in the sky.
Details:
Imaged on 3/4/2006 at 12:56 AM Central Time from Fordland, MO
Equipment:
Camera: Canon 300D (unmodified)
at Prime Focus
Imaging Scope: 8” F4.9 Orion Reflector
Guide Scope: 120mm F5.0 Orion refractor
Guiding: GuideDog software and SAC-7b camera and TechnoPlus LX200 emulator
Mount: Losmandy CG-11
Image Information:Imaging Scope: 8” F4.9 Orion Reflector
Guide Scope: 120mm F5.0 Orion refractor
Guiding: GuideDog software and SAC-7b camera and TechnoPlus LX200 emulator
Mount: Losmandy CG-11
12 Frames, 10 Minutes each
@ ISO 800 + Avg of 5 Darks
No flat or bias frames
Captured with DSLR Control
Focused and Processed with Images Plus 2.75
No flat or bias frames
Captured with DSLR Control
Focused and Processed with Images Plus 2.75