M 65 (NGC 3623) and M 66 (NGC 3627) Galaxies in Leo

Center of field at approximately: RA 11 hours 19 minutes 31 seconds, Dec +13 degrees 02 minutes 11 seconds

Size: 9.8' x 2.8' and 9.1' x 4.1'; Magnitude: 10.3 blue and 9.7 blue; Class: SAB(rs)a and SAB(s)b

North is up

West to the right

Telescope:

 8" f5 Newtonian reflector

Camera:

  ST-8XME self-guided, binned 1x1, temp -20c, camera control MaxIm DL 4.53
Image:

Red (Hoya 25A) filter, 300 minutes (30 x 10 minutes) 05/24/25/27/2006
Processing:

CCDStack 1.2, Photoshop 7.0
Location:

 Rolling Roof Observatory, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 (+34d 13m 29s -118h 52m 20s)
Notes:

From the NGC / IC Project:

Contemporary Visual Observation(s) for NGC 3623

NGC 3623 = M65 = U06328 = MCG +02-29-018 = CGCG 067-054 = PGC 34612
11 18 55.3 +13 05 35
V = 9.3;  Size 9.8x2.9;  SB = 12.8;  PA = 174d

17.5": very bright, very large, very elongated N-S, 7.5'x2.0', bright core, 
stellar nucleus.  A mag 12 star is W of the S end 2.1' from the center.  Forms a 
remarkable trio with M66 20' ESE and N3628 36' NE.  Requires low power to view 
all three in same field.

13": very bright, elongated N-S, bright core, possible stellar nucleus.

- by Steve Gottlieb
Contemporary Visual Observation(s) for NGC 3627
NGC 3627 = M66 = U06346 = MCG +02-29-019 = CGCG 067-057 = Arp 16 = VV 308 = PGC 
34695
11 20 15.0 +12 59 22
V = 8.9;  Size 9.1x4.2;  SB = 12.7;  PA = 173d

17.5": very bright, large, elongated N-S, 5'x3', bright elongated core.  Two 
spiral arms are visible although the western arm is more prominent.

13": bright elongated core, stellar nucleus.  A diffuse spiral arm extends S and 
a second short arm extends to the E.  A dark patch is visible just E of the 
nucleus.

- by Steve Gottlieb