Messier 65/66 (M 65/66)

Introduction | Map | Sketch | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the galaxies M 65/66 in the constellation Leo. The neigboring galaxies M 65 (NGC 3623) and M 66 (NGC 3627) were a tight fit for the field of view of the eVscope with the quadratic image format, but they fit the rectangular format well.

Introduction

The spiral galaxies M 65 and M 66, together with the galaxy NGC 3628, belong to the Leo Triplet in the constellation Leo. Both galaxies are said to be brighter than those of the Virgo cluster, whereas NGC 3628 is very faint. I saw the two galaxies only very faintly with visual telescopes, and NGC 3628 not at all.

In the eVscope, the two neighboring galaxies M 65 and M 66 are clearly visible individually, and together they fit just about into the quadratic field of view of the eVscope (20' distance); they fit better when using the rectangular format without overlay. The whole Leo Triplet cannot be observed in the eVscope (2), but in the Vespera (normal view).

Map

The galaxies M 65 and M 66 in the constellation Leo as well as the neighboring galaxies M 95, M 96, and M 105 (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

The Leo Triplet: NGC 3628 (selected), M 66, and M 65 (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Sketch

The sketch by Michael Vlasov (DeepSkyWatch.com) provides a rough impression of what I observed (my impression was much fainter than the sketch): Leo's Triplet (Messier 65, 66, NGC 3628) by Michael Vlasov (Copyright © Michael Vlasov 2016)

Note: I only have the author's permission to link to the sketch.

My Best Own Photos

ZWO ASI224 at Omegon PS 72/432

M 65 & M 66 - Apr 13, 2021 - 31 frames, 10 s, gain 0, processed

eVscope

M 66 and M 65

M 65 & M 66 - Mar 8, 2021		M 65 & M 66 - Mar 8, 2021		M 65 & M 66 - Mar 8, 2021
M 65 & M 66 - Mar 8, 2021, photo above processed		M 65 & M 66 - Mar 8, 2021, photo above processed		M 65 & M 66 - Mar 8, 2021, photo above processed
M 65 & M 66 - May 31, 2021		M 65 & M 66 - May 31, 2021, photo left processed (Polarr)

Vespera

Leo Triplet

M 65 and M 66 with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet) - Jun 6, 2023, mosaic, 2880s, original		M 65 and M 66 with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet) - Jun 6, 2023, mosaic, 2880s, large, photo left processed
M 65 and M 66 with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet) - Jun 7, 2023, 2390s, original		M 65 and M 66 with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet) - Jun 6, 2023, HD section from mosaic on top, 2880s, large

My Own Observations

Observations Spring 2017

• April 29, 2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer 150PDS on GoTo mount): M 65 and M 66 as well as M 96 accessed - weak glows, M 96 probably the weakest
• May 14, 2017 (ditto): M 65/66 only one galaxy found
• May 15, 2017 (ditto): M 65/66 faint, but probably both galaxies found

Observations February to May 2020

• February 24, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 66 photographed; many hot pixels
• March 13, 22, and 23, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 65 and M 66 photographed, also both together. M 65 and M 66 fit more or less the (round) field of view of the eVscope...
• March 25, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 65 photographed
• April 22 and 23, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 65 and M 66 photographed together (no overlay, rectangular format)
• April 23, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C8): M 65 and M 66 observed together, faint (comparison with eVscope)
• May 16, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 65 and M 66 photographed together (n.o., r.f.); sky too bright

Observations March to May 2021

• March 7, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 65 and M 66 photographed together (n.o., r.f.); eVscope defocused, photos discarded
• March 8, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 65 and M 66 photographed together (n.o., r.f.); exposed manually
• April 13, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS72 on AZ-GTi, ASI224): M 65 and M 66 photographed (10 seconds); stars a little bloated
• May 30, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 65 and M 66 photographed singly (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing; photos discarded
• May 31, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 65 and M 66 photographed together (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing

Observations April/May 2022

• April 9, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope 2): M 65 and M 66 photographed together (app version 1.5)
• April 10, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope 2): M 65 and M 66 photographed together (app version 1.5)
• April 17, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope 2): NGC 3628 photographed together with M 65; M 65 and M 66 photographed together (app version 1.5)
• May 6, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Atik Infinity, PS72): M 65 and M 66 photographed together

Observations June 2023

• June 6, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 65 and M 66 photographed together with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet) as a mosaic (2880s)
• June 7, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 66 and M 65 photographed together with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet) (2390s, nearly 40min)

References

• Messier Catalogue - Messier 65: messier.seds.org/m/m065.html
• Messier Catalogue - Messier 66: messier.seds.org/m/m066.html
• Messier 65 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_65
• Messier 66 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_66
• NGC 3628 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_3628

On this Site

• Sky-Watcher Explorer 150PDS Information (6" Newton)
• Celestron C8 OTA Information (8" Schmidt-Cassegrain)
• Omegon Photography Scope 72/432 ED OTA Information (2.8" Refractor)
• Unistellar eVscope Information
• Unistellar eVscope 2 Information
• Vaonis Vespera - Information
• Sky-Watcher AZ-GTi AZ GoTo Mount Information
• Sky-Watcher Star Discovery AZ GoTo Mount Information
• Sky-Watcher AZ4 Mount Information
• ZWO ASI224 Color Camera - Information

Appendix: My Own Photos

Atik Infinity at Omegon PS 72/432

M 65/66 - May 6, 2022		M 65/66 - May 6, 2022, processed

ZWO ASI224 at Omegon PS 72/432

M 65 & M 66 - Apr 13, 2021 - 31 frames, 10 s, gain 300, processed

eVscope

M 65

M 65 - Mar 13, 2020		M 65 - Mar 22, 2020		M 65 - Mar 25, 2020
M 65 - Mar 13, 2020, photo above processed		M 65 - Mar 22, 2020, photo above processed		M 65 - Mar 25, 2020, photo above processed

M 66

M 66 - Mar 13, 020		M 66 - Mar 13, 2020		M 66 - Mar 23, 2020
M 66 - Mar 13, 2020, version above processed		M 66 - Mar 13, 2020, version above processed		M 66 - Mar 23, 2020, version above processed

M 65 and M 66

M 65 & M 66 - Mar 13, 2020		M 65 & M 66 - Mar 22, 2020		M 65 & M 66 - Mar 23, 2020
M 65 & M 66 - Mar 13, 2020, processed		M 65 & M 66 - Mar 22, 2020, processed		M 65 & M 66 - Mar 23, 2020, processed
M 65 & M 66 - Apr 22, 2020		M 65 & M 66 - Apr 23, 2020		M 65 & M 66 - Apr 23, 2020
M 65 & M 66 - Apr 22, 2020, photo above processed		M 65 & M 66 - Apr 23, 2020, photo above processed		M 65 & M 66 - Apr 23, 2020, photo above processed
M 65 & M 66 - May 16, 2020, sky too bright		M 65 & M 66 - May 16, 2020, photo left processed
M 65 & M 66 - Mar 8, 2021		M 65 & M 66 - Mar 8, 2021		M 65 & M 66 - Mar 8, 2021
M 65 & M 66 - Mar 8, 2021, photo above processed		M 65 & M 66 - Mar 8, 2021, photo above processed		M 65 & M 66 - Mar 8, 2021, photo above processed
M 65 & M 66 - May 31, 2021		M 65 & M 66 - May 31, 2021, photo left processed (Polarr)

eVscope 2

M 65 and M 66, NGC 3628 and M 65

M 65 & M 66 - Apr 9, 2022		M 65 & M 66 - Apr 9, 2022, photo left processed
M 65 & M 66 - Apr 10, 2022		M 65 & M 66 - Apr 10, 2022, photo left processed
M 65 & M 66 - Apr 17, 2022		M 65 & M 66 - Apr 17, 2022, photo left processed
NGC 3628 & M 65 - Apr 17, 2022		NGC 3628 & M 65 - Apr 17, photo left processed

Vespera

Leo Triplet

M 65 and M 66 with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet) - Jun 6, 2023, mosaic, 2880s, original		M 65 and M 66 with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet) - Jun 6, 2023, mosaic, 2880s, large, photo left processed
M 65 and M 66 with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet) - Jun 7, 2023, 2390s, original		M 65 and M 66 with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet) - Jun 6, 2023, HD section from mosaic on top, 2880s, large