A spring galaxy pairing in Leo, with M65 and M66 showing tilted spiral structure in the same frame.
This frame remains part of the Lost Photons archive.
- What am I looking at?
- A spring galaxy pairing in Leo, with M65 and M66 showing tilted spiral structure in the same frame.
- Where is it in the sky?
- The Leo Triplet (M65 / M66) lies in Leo, a spring constellation for mid-northern latitude observers.
- When is the best time to photograph it?
- Leo is best placed during spring (March through May), when it clears the horizon earlier in the night.
Capture summary
Galaxy in Leo
March 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 & 21
Broadband integration
Spring target / wide composition
- L-Pro 18h 45m 225 x 300s / March 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 & 21
- Totals 18h 45m March 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 & 21
When to image this target
Galaxy in Leo; best planned for March through May from New Jersey.
Spring favors higher galaxy fields and northern targets after evening twilight.
Assumes a New Jersey backyard horizon and evening imaging.
Prioritize transparency, darker skies, and long broadband integration.
M65 / M66 is listed here in Leo.
Current frame: Broadband RGB / Broadband integration.
Live altitude, moon, and filter guidance
Calculating target altitude and moon context.
Use the full planner to enter a ZIP code, choose a date, and compare the target from your sky.
Based on the current time.
Green marks usable dark-sky altitude.
Next upper transit.
Approximate horizon crossing.
Moon phase and altitude.
Acquisition & processing notes
Filter channels, integration times, and capture dates for this frame. View on AstroBin.
- L-Pro 225 x 300s, 18h 45m, March 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 & 21
- Totals 18h 45m, March 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 & 21
How I captured this
| Channel | Frames | Time |
|---|---|---|
| L-Pro | 225 x 300s | 18h 45m |
| Totals | — | 18h 45m |
- Equipment used
- From my current rig
- Mount
- iOptron CEM60
- Telescope
- Explore Scientific FCD100 127mm Carbon Fiber Triplet APO
- Camera
- ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
- Filters
- Chroma 36mm Ha, OIII, SII, and LRGB (ZWO EFW 7×36mm)
- Focuser / rotator
- MoonLite NiteCrawler
- Reducer
- Starizona Apex ED 0.65×
- Guiding
- ZWO off-axis guider + ASI290MM Mini
- Control / power
- PrimaLuceLab Eagle 4S, Powerwerx PSU, Bioenno field battery, and MEGAbox
