The Non-Messier Object of the Leo Triplet

 
Messier Object 104, The Sombrero Galaxy
 

 

Image Information
Date Imaged 3/12, 3/13, and 3/19/2010
Location Imaged From Barking Pumpkin Observatory

Tierra del Sol , CA

Equipment Telescope: Orion 80ED
Mount: Piggy-back on my 10" LX200 Classic
Camera: SBIG ST2000XM
Astrodon True-Balance RGB
Focal Ratio: f/7.5
Exposure Information

L:R:G:B: - 370:145:125:65

NGC 3628 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. NGC 3628 along with M65 and M66 form the famous Leo Triplet, a small group of galaxies. It's 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 our view.