M66m66


Spiral Galaxy in Leo
NGC 3627
Mag 8.9
Leo Triplet with M65 and NGC 3628


02/04/13

06/04/13

15/04/13

1st quarter moon bright enough to cast shadows

22/04/14
Hazy cloud drifting in but still a good feel of size and shape

05/04/15
Both M65 and M66 very faint and washed out with the sky lightening as the Moon rises

20/04/15
The brightest of the Leo Triplet, next to a neat asterism of stars around Mag 10
A feel of the shape, which is rather ragged
All three of the Leo Triplet just fit into the FOV in 12mm

31/03/16
Observed with M65 and NGC 3628, together forming the Leo Triplet
Rather a sparse FOV, with the only bright star HIP 55262, Mag 7.10, between M65 and NGC 3628
All three galaxies show good shapes and structures, with NGC 3628, although the faintest at Mag 9.50 appearing the largest with the merest hint of a dust lane splitting it lenghways
M66 has a nice little asterism of stars of Mag 9.8 and 11th Mag sitting beside it

21/03/17
Part of the Leo Triplet, M66 is the brightest and is featured in ANs object of the month for March
Leo is perfectly placed for observing comfortably
In 24mm the Trio sit in a neat FOV with M66 and M65 above and NGC 3628 below, with HIP 55262 at Mag 7.10 forming a neat grouping which is also easy to locate, just a FOV away from n Leo, 73 Leo, HIP 55016
M66 itself shows hints of it's irregular shape, slightly misleading since a Mag 10.5 star sits just at one edge and another of Mag 9.8 is close, however the 'tadpole' shape is quite defined with a bright central core.