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| M66, (NGC 3627) a spiral galaxy. Image above has been cropped and downsized for display. Click on image for full frame full resolution picture with its neighbor M65. |
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M66, together with its neighbors
M65 and
NGC 3628
form a most interesting trio of galaxies known as the
Leo Trio.
M66 is considerably larger than its neighbor,
M65, and has a well developed but not well defined central bulge. Its spiral
arms are deformed, probably because of the gravitational influence of its
neighbors. They seem to be distorted and displaced above the plane of the
galaxy. Note how the upper spiral arms seems to pass over the left side of
the central bulge. Much dust is visible here, likely areas of star
formation.
M66 can be found below the belly of Leo, and about 13 degrees above the celestial equator. Visually it is 8 x 2.5 arc minutes in size and at 8.9 magnitude surface brightness. It is 35 million light years away from us, and at 100,000 light years diameter, about the same size as our Milky Way.. |
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10"
F6.3 Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope, (1600mm F.L.) Modified Canon
300D camera with IR-UV filter, placed at the scopes prime focus |