210318 - M66(group) "Leo Triplet" galaxies
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click image to enlarge
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ASTRO:
type=3x Spiral galaxies const=Leo; mag=10.3 dist=35 M ly (avg) size=417 k ly (between galaxies) IMAGE: location=EB Driveway BrtlCls=4 exposure=DSLR OSC: 30x30s (0.3h), ISO1600 EQUIPMENT: camera=Nikon D90 (mod) optics=ES102 w24mmEP afocal; F=1238mm, f/12.1 filter=Optolong L-Pro LPS mount=Celestron AVX guiding=Orion 60x240mm, ZWO ASi224MC SOFTWARE: acquisition=Stellarium, APT, PHD2, processing=DSS, PhotoshopCC, LrC |
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This popular grouping of galaxies leaps into the early evening sky around the March equinox marking the beginning of the spring season in the northern hemisphere. Famously known as the "Leo Triplet", the three magnificent galaxies found in the prominent constellation of Leo (the Lion) gather here in one astronomical field of view. Crowd pleasers when imaged with even modest telescopes, they can be introduced individually as NGC 3628 (left), M65 (upper right) and M66 (lower right). All three are large spiral galaxies but tend to look dissimilar, because their galactic disks are tilted at different angles to our line of sight. NGC 3628, also known as the Hamburger Galaxy, is temptingly seen edge-on, with obscuring dust lanes cutting across its puffy galactic plane. The disks of M65 and M66 are both inclined enough to show off their respective spiral structures.
Through recent scientific study, it has been determined all 3 galaxies are gravitationally bound to one another. Gravitational interactions between galaxies in the group have left telltale signs, including the tidal tails and warped, inflated disk of NGC 3628 and the drawn out spiral arms of M66. Due to this finding, it is theorized that millions of years from now, they will eventually interact, and merge into one, single galaxy.
This gorgeous view of the region spans over 1 degree (two full moons) in the sky. At the trio's estimated distance of 30 million light-years, they cover over half a million light-years distance between them and Earth. The foreground stars all lie well within our home Milky Way galaxy; but In contrast, the Triplet lies well outside our home galaxy. The only thing separating them from the outer fringes of the Milky Way is the vastness of empty outer space, which is a void of most anything like stars, nebulae or other matter of molecular gas or dust.
Through recent scientific study, it has been determined all 3 galaxies are gravitationally bound to one another. Gravitational interactions between galaxies in the group have left telltale signs, including the tidal tails and warped, inflated disk of NGC 3628 and the drawn out spiral arms of M66. Due to this finding, it is theorized that millions of years from now, they will eventually interact, and merge into one, single galaxy.
This gorgeous view of the region spans over 1 degree (two full moons) in the sky. At the trio's estimated distance of 30 million light-years, they cover over half a million light-years distance between them and Earth. The foreground stars all lie well within our home Milky Way galaxy; but In contrast, the Triplet lies well outside our home galaxy. The only thing separating them from the outer fringes of the Milky Way is the vastness of empty outer space, which is a void of most anything like stars, nebulae or other matter of molecular gas or dust.