The Leo Triplet Galaxies
Taken by Tom Wildoner on April 8, 2026 @
Weatherly, PA, USA
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Camera Used: Unavailable Unavailable
Exposure Time: Unavailable
Aperture: Unavailable
ISO: Unavailable
Date Taken: 2026:05:18 13:36:39
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Details:
The Leo Triplet (also known as the M66 Group) is a spectacular and compact group of interacting spiral galaxies located approximately 35 million light-years away in the constellation Leo. This cosmic trio consists of three large galaxies—M65, M66, and NGC 3628 (popularly called the Hamburger Galaxy)—all visible in a single wide-field view, making them a premier target for amateur astrophotographers. While M65 and M66 are classic, bright spirals with prominent central bulges and well-defined arms, NGC 3628 is viewed edge-on, showcasing a striking, bloated dust lane that bisects its galactic disk. The most fascinating aspect of the Leo Triplet is their ongoing gravitational relationship; millions of years of close encounters have unleashed massive tidal forces that have distorted the spiral structure of M66 and pulled a massive, 300,000-light-year-long "tidal tail" of stars and gas out of the Hamburger Galaxy, offering astronomers a perfect laboratory for studying galactic evolution and interaction.
🔭 Technical Details:
Telescope: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120
Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC BIN1
Mount: EQ6R Mount
Capture: 108 x 60 seconds
Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA (Bortle 4)
Processing: DSS and PixInsight
Image Date: April 8, 2026.
Photographer's website:
https://www.thedarksideobservatory.com
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