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 and Vespera Pro (normal view).

M 65 (NGC 3623)      M 66 (NGC 3627)   NGC 3628
Size: 5 x 1.5' (Stoyan)
Distance: 33 million light years
Rating: ** (Stoyan)
  Size: 4.5' x 2' (Stoyan)
Distance: 33 million light years
Rating: ** (Stoyan)
     Size: 8' x 2' (Stoyan)
Distance: 34 million light years
Rating: * (Stoyan)

 

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

Vespera Pro

Leo Triplet

    

M 65 and M 66 with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet), May 13, 2024 - mosaic, 3600s, 2000p

 

M 65 and M 66 with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet), May 13, 2024 - section from mosaic, 3600s, 2000p

 

M 65 and M 66 with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet), May 13, 2024 - ditto, 3600s, 2000p, processed

 

M 65 and M 66 with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet), May 13, 2024 - ditto, denoised (DN), 2000p

 

My Own Observations

Observations Spring 2017

Observations February to May 2020

Observations March to May 2021

Observations April/May 2022

Observations June 2023

Observations May 2024

 

References

On this Site


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

Vespera Pro

Leo Triplet

    

M 65 and M 66 with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet), May 13, 2024 - mosaic, 3600s, 2000p

 

M 65 and M 66 with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet), May 13, 2024 - section from mosaic, 3600s, 2000p

 

M 65 and M 66 with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet), May 13, 2024 - ditto, 3600s, 2000p, processed

 

M 65 and M 66 with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet), May 13, 2024 - ditto, denoised (DN), 2000p