M65
Leo Triplet
Spiral
Propriétés
Position et Identifiants
Visibilité
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À propos de M65
Description
M65 is a spiral galaxy in Leo, about 35 million light-years from Earth. Together with M66 and NGC 3628, it forms the famous Leo Triplet — one of the finest galaxy groups for amateur telescopes. M65 is an intermediate spiral with prominent dust lanes visible along its inclined disk, spanning about 90,000 light-years.
Conseils d'Observation
Located about 3 degrees south-southeast of Theta Leonis (Chertan). M65 and M66 are separated by only 20 arcminutes and fit together in a low-power telescope field. A 4-inch telescope shows both as elongated glows. An 8-inch reveals the dust lane along M65's western edge. NGC 3628 (the Hamburger Galaxy) lies 35 arcminutes to the north, completing the triplet. Best observed from March through June.
Histoire
Discovered by Charles Messier on March 1, 1780, on the same night as M66. The Leo Triplet has become one of the most popular galaxy groups for amateur astrophotography.
Faits Amusants
The Leo Triplet galaxies are gravitationally interacting. Deep photographs show a 300,000-light-year tidal tail stretching from NGC 3628, pulled out by the gravitational influence of M65 and M66. Despite their close proximity, M65 appears relatively undisturbed compared to its companions.
Photos de la Communauté (1)
Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA. License: Public domain. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Feb 28, 2026