The Leo Triplet is one of the most photogenic galaxy groups in the spring sky — three beautiful spiral galaxies that fit nicely in the same field of view.
Equipment
- Telescope: Orion 8″ 1000mm f/4.9 Newtonian reflector
- Mount: Orion Atlas EQ-G
- Imaging Camera: Canon T3i (full spectrum modification)
- Guide Scope: Meade 800mm f/10 reduced to f/5 with Atik x.5 focal reducer
- Guide Camera: Meade DSI Pro monochrome 16-bit
Capture Details
- Integration: 28 x 120sec exposures (56 minutes total)
- Captured: Across two nights in December 2025
- Software: N.I.N.A 3.1 for capture, Siril 1.4.0 for stacking
- Resolution: 5137 x 3379 pixels
About This Object
The Leo Triplet (also known as the M66 Group) consists of three spiral galaxies about 35 million light-years away in the constellation Leo:
- M65 – A tightly wound spiral
- M66 – A larger, more open spiral with asymmetric arms
- NGC 3628 – An edge-on spiral (not visible in this framing)
This group is a favorite target for astrophotographers because all three galaxies show nice detail in modest equipment and fit well in the field of view of most telescopes.
