Messier 96 (M 96)

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

On this page I collect my observations of the spiral galaxy M 96 (NGC 3368) in the constellation Leo.

Introduction

The galaxy M 96 in the constellation Leo is part of a galaxy quartet (the M 96 group, to which also M 105 belongs). All these galaxies are, however, difficult to find in light-polluted skies, as I also had to find out.

M 96 is a spiral galaxy, which forms a pair with M 95, but both are too far away (40') to be seen together in the eVscope. In the Vespera (Pro), you can observe them together without any problems, and also include M 105.

Map

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

My Best Own Photos

ZWO ASI224 at Omegon PS 72/432

M 96 - Apr 8, 2021 - 30 frames, 10 s, gain 300, processed		M 96 - Apr 13, 2021 - 12 frames, 10 s, gain 300, processed

eVscope

M 96 - Mar 22, 2020 (4 min		M 96 - Mar 22, 2020 (5 min)		M 96 - Mar 22, 2020 (29 min)
M 96 - Mar 22, 2020, photo above processed		M 96 - Mar 22, 2020, photo above processed		M 96 - Mar 22, 2020, photo above processed
M 96 - Mar 7, 2021		M 96 - Mar 8, 2021		M 96 - Mar 8, 2021
M 96 - Mar 7, 2021, photo above processed		M 96 - Mar 8, 2021, photo above processed		M 96 - Mar 8, 2021, photo above processed

Vespera

M 95, M 96, M 105 and more, May 31, 2023 - mosaic, processed, large, 2310s		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net

Small galaxies in the mosaic: IC 643, NGC 3345, NGC 3384, NGC 3389 (see evaluation)

Vespera Pro

M 95, M 96, M 105, and more, May 10, 2024 - mosaic, 2000p, 2940s		M 95, M 96, M 105, and more, May 10, 2024 - mosaic, processed, 2000p, 2940s
Observed sky region shown in Singularity		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net
Small galaxies in the mosaic: IC 643, IC 648, NGC 3345, NGC 3384, NGC 3389, NGC 3412, NGC 3419, NGC 3367, NGC 3377, NGC 3357, NGC 3391, NGC 3338 (see evaluation)
M 95, M 96, M 105, and more, Feb 19, 2025 - 2000p, 30 min		M 95, M 96, M 105, and more, Feb 19, 2025 - 2000p, 30 min, processed
M 95, M 96, M 105, and more, Feb 19, 2025 - 2000p, 30 min, TIFF processed and denoised (PAI)		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net
Small galaxies in the mosaic: IC 643,NGC 3345, NGC 3384, NGC 3389 (see evaluation)

My Own Observations

Observations Spring 2017

• April 29, 2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer 150PDS on GoTo mount): M 96 as well as M 65 and M 66 accessed, weak glows, M 96 probably the weakest

Observations February to May 2020

• February 24, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 96 photographed (borderline case... close to house)
• March 13 and 22, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 96 photographed; stayed very long in Enhanced Vision mode (up to 29 minutes) on March 23.
• April 22 and 23, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 96 photographed (no overlay, rectangular format)
• April 23, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C8): M 96 observed, faint (comparison with eVscope)
• May 16, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 96 photographed (n.o., r.f.)

Observations March/April 2021

• March 7, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 96 photographed (n.o., r.f.), eVscope defocused, photos discarded
• March 8, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 96 photographed (n.o., r.f.), exposed manually
• April 8, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS72 on AZ-GTi, ASI224): M 96 photographed (10 seconds); stars a little bloated
• April 13, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS72 on AZ-GTi, ASI224): M 96 photographed (10 seconds); stars a little bloated

Observations March/April 2022

• March 20, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 96 photographed (app version 1.5)
• April 17, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 95 and 96 photographed together (app version 1.5)

Observations May 2023

• May 30, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 96 photographed together with the two galaxies M 105 and M 95 and many small galaxies (large mosaic)
• Mai 31, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 96 photographed together with the two galaxies M 105 and M 95 and three small galaxies (medium-size mosaic)

Observations May 2024

• May 10, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 96 photographed together with the two galaxies M 105 and M 95 and many small galaxies (mosaic)

Observations February 2025

• February 19, 2025 (Erkerode: Vespera Pro): M 96 photographed together with the two galaxies M 105 and M 95 and many small galaxies (30 min)

References

• Messier Catalogue - Messier 96: messier.seds.org/m/m096.html
• Messier 96 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_96

On this Site

• Sky-Watcher Heritage 100P Information (4" Dobson)
• Sky-Watcher Explorer 150PDS Information (6" Newton)
• Sky-Watcher Skymax-102 OTA Information (4" Maksutov-Cassegrain)
• 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
• Vaonis Vespera Pro - 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

ZWO ASI224 at Omegon PS 72/432

M 96 - Apr 8, 2021 - 30 frames, 10 s, gain 300, processed		M 96 - Apr 13, 2021 - 12 frames, 10 s, gain 300, processed

eVscope

M 96 - Mar 13, 2020		M 96 - Mar 13, 2020, photo left processed
M 96 - Mar 22, 2020 (4 min		M 96 - Mar 22, 2020 (5 min)		M 96 - Mar 22, 2020 (29 min)
M 96 - Mar 22, 2020, photo above processed		M 96 - Mar 22, 2020, photo above processed		M 96 - Mar 22, 2020, photo above processed
M 96 - Apr 22, 2020		M 96 - Apr 23, 2020		M 96 - Apr 23, 2020
M 96 - Apr 22, 2020, photo above processed		M 96 - Apr 23, 2020, photo above processed		M 96 - Apr 23, 2020, photo above processed
M 96 - May 16, 2020		M 96 - May 16, 2020, photo left processed
M 96 - Mar 7, 2021		M 96 - Mar 8, 2021		M 96 - Mar 8, 2021
M 96 - Mar 7, 2021, photo above processed		M 96 - Mar 8, 2021, photo above processed		M 96 - Mar 8, 2021, photo above processed

eVscope 2

M 96

M 96 - Mar 20, 2022		M 96 - Mar 20, 2022, photo left processed

M 95 and M 96

M 95/96 - Apr 17, 2022		M 95/96 - Apr 17, 2022, photo left processed

Vespera

M 95, M 96, M 105 and more, May 30, 2023 - mosaic, processed, large, 2520s		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net

Small galaxies in the mosaic: NGC 3345, NGC 3346, NGC 3357, NGC 3367, NGC 3377, NGC 3384, NGC 3389, NGC 3391 (see evaluation)

M 95, M 96, M 105 and more, May 31, 2023 - mosaic, processed, large, 2310s		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net

Small galaxies in the mosaic: IC 643, NGC 3345, NGC 3384, NGC 3389 (see evaluation)

Vespera Pro

M 95, M 96, M 105, and more, May 10, 2024 - mosaic, 2000p, 2940s		M 95, M 96, M 105, and more, May 10, 2024 - mosaic, processed, 2000p, 2940s
Observed sky region shown in Singularity		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net
Small galaxies in the mosaic: IC 643, IC 648, NGC 3345, NGC 3384, NGC 3389, NGC 3412, NGC 3419, NGC 3367, NGC 3377, NGC 3357, NGC 3391, NGC 3338 (see evaluation)
M 95, M 96, M 105, and more, Feb 19, 2025 - 2000p, 30 min		M 95, M 96, M 105, and more, Feb 19, 2025 - 2000p, 30 min, processed
M 95, M 96, M 105, and more, Feb 19, 2025 - 2000p, 30 min, TIFF processed and denoised (PAI)		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net
Small galaxies in the mosaic: IC 643,NGC 3345, NGC 3384, NGC 3389 (see evaluation)