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Old 05-03-2011, 07:11 AM
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orestis
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: southern highlands, Australia
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Thanks Suzy

Quote:
Originally Posted by mental4astro View Post
Orestis!

I had forecast having a lot on my plate around this time, and while I had started preliminary work on this month's Challenge, I've just been struggling to get it done.

I have one suggestion to add:

Leo Trio of Galaxies- M65, M66 & NGC 3628. Reaching meridian near midnight (its highest position for the evening), it is at its best now being bang in the middle of the Dark of the Night (the darkest portion of the evening is the four hours between 10pm and 2am standard time). These three will sit comfortably in a low power wide field eyepiece.

All three are spiral galaxies, M65 just about flush face on, M66 close to 45 deg tilt, and 3628 nearly edge on somewhat resembling a smaller Sombrero galaxy, with a dark central lane obvious in a 12" scope. M66 has arms that are among the easiest seen of all galaxies. Two can be seen faintly in a 10" scope, and very easily seen in a 16".

This trio is easy to locate, being very close to the star Theta in Leo.
I totally forgot about the leo trio, Great suggestion and they can all be viewed with even small scopes I saw all tree with my 5'' scope,can't wait to turn the 12'' on them.

Thanks Alex
Cheers Orestis
ps-anymore suggestions are welcome
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