Arp 270 (NGC3395/96) in Leo Minor
Taken by Tom Wildoner on February 14, 2026 @
Weatherly, PA, USA
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Camera Used: Unavailable Unavailable
Exposure Time: Unavailable
Aperture: Unavailable
ISO: Unavailable
Date Taken: 2026:03:17 19:09:37
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Details:
NGC 3395 is a peculiar spiral galaxy located approximately 55 million light-years away in the constellation Leo Minor. Spanning about 35,000 light-years across, it is famously locked in a cosmic dance with its neighbor, the irregular galaxy NGC 3396. Together, this pair is known as Arp 270 in the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies. The intense gravitational interaction between the two has distorted their shapes and triggered vigorous star formation, evidenced by numerous bright H-alpha regions where new stars are being born. Discovered by William Herschel in 1785, NGC 3395 remains a prime example of how galactic collisions reshape the universe over millions of years.
🔭 Technical Details:
Telescope: Meade 12” LX-90 SCT with Antares Focal Reducer
Camera: ZWO ASI071MC (cooled to -10°F) BIN2
Mount: Celestron CGX-L pier mounted
Capture: 3 hours total exposure (60s subs) via ASIAir Pro
Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA (Bortle 4)
Processing: PixInsight & DeepSkyStacker
Image Date: February 14, 2026.
Photographer's website:
https://www.thedarksideobservatory.com
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