Leo Triplet

About image

The Leo triplet is a group of three galaxies visible in the Leo constellation. 

In detail we have NGC 3628 (upper left), M66 (bottom left) and M65 (bottom 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 seen edge-on, with obscuring dust lanes cutting across its galactic plane. The disks of M66 and M65 are both inclined enough to show off their spiral structure. 

These galaxies are 30 million light-years away. 

The field of view of this image correspond to two full moons. (text adapted from Apod)

Technical data
Optic         Tecnosky Apo refractor LT 130-910mm f/7 with RIccardi 0.75x focal reducer (focal lenght 692mm f/5.2)
Mount       Skywatcher EQ8
Camera                      Atik 4000 with Starlight Xpress external filter wheel 5 positions
Filters                         Baader 50mm unmounted RGB, Hutech IDAS LPS P2 for L
Guiding system         Artesky Ultraguide 70mm 
Exposure details    L 59x300" bin1 -25C

         R 27x300" bin1 -25C

         G 27x300" bin1 -25C
            B 27x300" bin1 -25C
Total integration       11.7h
Acquisition                Voyager, PHD2
Processing                Pixinsight 1.8, Photoshop CS5
SQM-L                       18.5    
Location                    Rescaldina (Italy), home terrace
Date                           10/11/12/13 January 2021




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