Leo Triplet

2026-03-28

NamesLeo Triplet, M66 Group
Magnitude8.92
Size10.28' x 4.61'
Ra11h 21m38.9s
Dec+12°50'42.8"

The Leo Triplet is a small group of galaxies about 35 million light-years away in the constellation Leo. This galaxy group consists of the spiral galaxies Messier 65. Messier 66, and NGC 3628.1

Messier 65

Messier 65 (also known as NGC 3623) is an intermediate spiral galaxy about 35 million light-years away in the constellation Leo, within its highly equatorial southern half. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1780.2

Messier 66

Messier 66, also known as NGC 3627, is an intermediate spiral galaxy located around 31 million light years from Earth in the equatorial half of the Leo constellation. Messier 66 has a morphological classification of SABb, indicating that is has a spiral shape with a weak bar feature and loosely wound arms.3

NGC 3628

NGC 3628, also known as the Hamburger Galaxy or Sarah's Galaxy, is an unbarred spiral galaxy about 35 million light-years away in the constellation Leo. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1784. It has an approximately 300,000 light-years long tidal tail. Its most conspicuous feature is the broad and obscuring band of dust located along the outer edge of its spiral arms, effectively transecting the galaxy to the view from Earth. 4

Leo Triplet

Photo Details

TelescopeSeestar S-50
Dates2026-03-28
Integration time

Footnotes

  1. Wikipedia - Leo Triplet
  2. Wikipedia - Messier 65
  3. Wikipedia - Messier 66
  4. Wikipedia - NGC 3628