Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Leo (Leo)  ·  Contains:  M 65  ·  M 66  ·  NGC 3623  ·  NGC 3627  ·  NGC 3628
Galactic Tug of War - Leo Triplet, Ray's Astrophotography
Galactic Tug of War - Leo Triplet
Powered byPixInsight

Galactic Tug of War - Leo Triplet

Galactic Tug of War - Leo Triplet, Ray's Astrophotography
Galactic Tug of War - Leo Triplet
Powered byPixInsight

Galactic Tug of War - Leo Triplet

Equipment

Loading...

Acquisition details

Loading...

Description

This is Leo Triplet.  These three galaxies are having a tug of war at the Cosmic Scale.  Each of these galaxies looks like they are independent and have their own galactic plane. When you look closer at their shape they are affected by the other two galaxies. 

The right top is M65.  The right bottom is M66 and NGC 3628 is to the left

These small group galaxies are about 35 million light-years away

NGC 3628 got a spectacular tail that stretches down 300,000 light-years.  This tidal tail has been drawn out of the galaxy by gravitational tides through past interactions with large neighbors.

Comments

Sky plot

Sky plot

Histogram

Galactic Tug of War - Leo Triplet, Ray's Astrophotography

In these public groups

Cloudy Nights