Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Leo (Leo)  ·  Contains:  Leo Triplet  ·  M 66  ·  NGC 3627
Spiral Galaxy Messier 66 (M66) in Leo, Tom Wildoner
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Spiral Galaxy Messier 66 (M66) in Leo

Spiral Galaxy Messier 66 (M66) in Leo, Tom Wildoner
Powered byPixInsight

Spiral Galaxy Messier 66 (M66) in Leo

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Description

Messier 66 or M66, also known as NGC 3627, is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the equatorial constellation of Leo. It was discovered by French astronomer Charles Messier on March 1, 1780, who described it as "very long and very faint". This galaxy is a member of a small group of galaxies that includes M65 and NGC 3628, known as the Leo Triplet, or the M66 Group.

Age: 13.26 billion years
Magnitude: 8.9
Radius: 47,500 light years
Stars: 200 billion
Coordinates: RA 11h 20m 15s | Dec +12° 59′ 30″
Constellation: Leo

Tech Specs: Orion 8" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph Telescope, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro mount that is pier mounted, ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF, 54 x 60 seconds at -10C, processed using DSS and PixInsight. Image Date: March 26, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W95), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

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Spiral Galaxy Messier 66 (M66) in Leo, Tom Wildoner

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Messier Objects