Spiral Galaxy NGC 3628

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About this Image

The distorted dusty galaxy NGC 3628 is a member of the famous Leo Triplet.
Lying at a distance of some 35 million light years, it also is probably physically related to the M 96 group.

A conspicuous band of dark dust clouds form a broad equatorial band, which obscures the galaxy's bright central region, and hides most of the bright young stars in its spiral arms. The dust band, or belt, is obviously distorted and deformed in the outer regions of the galaxy. The reason for this deformation is evidently the gravitational interaction with its two bright neighbors, M 65 and M 66.

Find an article on quasars apparently associated with NGC 3628 here: 1.

 


Technical Details

Optics

16" cassegrain in secondary focus at f/10

Mount MK-100 GEM
Camera SBIG STL-11000M at -20C, 8-pos filter wheel
Filters Baader LRGB
Date Apr 12-14, 2009.
Location Wildon/Austria
Sky Conditions mag 5 sky, raw FWHM 1.9-2.4", temperature 10-15 C
Exposure L:R:G:B = 320:80:80:80 minutes (20 minute sub-exposures),
Programs used Maxim DL 4.5;
CCDStack
Fitsliberator
Photoshop CS3
North is to the top-right side;