Leo Triplet (M65, M66, NGC3628)

Leo Triplet
All Images Copyright Steve Cannistra

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Characteristics:
Magnitude:  Approximately 10.0
Size: Each about 9-13 arcminutes
Distance: 35 million light years
RA: 11h 18m 56s
Dec: 13 degrees 05' 25"

Description:
The constellation Leo is rich in galaxies, and this grouping is one of the best known.  It is the Leo Triplet, comprised of M65 (upper right), M66 (lower right), and NGC3628 (upper left).  A few other small galaxies are present in this field of view as well.  At least 3 supernovae have been discovered in M66, the last one in 1997 (as of 4/04).   Although each of these galaxies is gravitationally affected by its neighbors, the spiral galaxy M65 is suprisingly symmetric and undisturbed.  In contrast, M66 is asymmetric, probably as a result of gravitational influence from M65.  Please click here for more information about this region.


Photographic Details:

Date:  April 16, 2004
Scope:  Takahashi Sky 90 at f4.5 with field flattener/focal reducer, piggybacked on LX90 (which is mounted on a Meade Superwedge).
Autoguider:  STV with e-finder.
Camera:  SXV-H9.
Filters:  IDAS LPS filter; Astronomik LRGB type II set.
Exposures:  L(24 x 5', 1x1):R(4 x 5', 2x2):G
(4 x 5', 2x2):B(5 x 5', 2x2).
Conditions:  Temperature 48 degrees F at beginning of imaging session; 34 degrees at the end (I refocused twice); average transparency; above average seeing; calm.
Post-processing:  
No dark, bias, or flat frames used.  Luminance: Two-star aligned in MaximDL; Sigma combined using RC Sigma Reject MaximDL, followed by DDP in ImagesPlus (IP).  Subsequent levels and curves adjustments in Photoshop CS.  Color images: Each channel initially aligned and combined
(RC Sigma Reject) in MaximDL. Normalized in MaximDL, followed by color combine in IP (I could have used MaximDL for this step as well).  After a DDP stretch in IP, the color image was then separated into each component for gradient correction using the Background Compensation tool.  After recombining the gradient-corrected color components in IP, the file was saved in 16 bit TIFF format and combined with the luminance image in PS.


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