Three gravitationally interacting galaxies form the Leo Triplet or Leo Trio.
Top is NGC 3628, left is Messier 66 right is Messier 65. Also in this picture (but not related) is NGC 3593 lower far
right. These can be found in Leo's back leg. The distance from NGC 3628 to M66 is about 500 thousand light-years at the
trio's estimated distance of 30 million light-years. Canon 450d on tracking mount."
| Found in Ursa Major. This is a fairly bright and easy to find spiral galaxy. Its distance from earth is estimated to be
about 22 to 25 million light years. There are several other much fainter galaxies recorded in this picture.
Canon 450d on tracking mount.
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Markarian's Chain
This is a curved chain of galaxies in the constellation of Virgo. Messier 84, 86 and 88 plus several
IC (Index Catalogue) galaxies make up the chain. This is an area of sky rich in galaxies. I have counted 36 in this
picture but a deeper image would show many more. See the labelled version. Canon 450d on tracking mount.
| Markarian's Chain |
Moon, waxing gibbous.
The main detail can be seen close to the edge of the shadow (terminator). Visible top left is the Bay Of Rainbows
(Sinus Iridium). Head to the right and follow the edge of the "sea" Mare Imbrium around to the crater Plato. Crater
Copernicus is centre left and is displaying its rays. Prominent at bottom left is crater Tycho with a nice central peak.
The ejecta from Tycho created the rays that are so visible at full moon and starting to show at this phase.
Nikon D300 on 150mm astrograph. Single frame.
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Moon Crater Plato.
This image was taken using a converted web camera connected to a telescope. The resultant video file is processed by
computer software to pick out the sharpest frames and produce the final still image. The large crater on the left of the
picture is called Plato and has a diameter of 61 miles. Follow the Alpine Mountains to the right to the Alpine Valley.
This feature is 79 miles long by 7 miles wide. Normal binoculars will show nice detail on the moon. Best time is when
it's not full as the best details are brought out by the shadows.
| Saturn
This is a web cam image taken 08/06/2014. The Cassini division, a gap between the inner and outer rings, is visible in
the rings to the sides of the planet. A shadow from the rings is visible on the surface of the planet and above that a
cloud band. The dark separation of the planet from the rings at the back is the planet casting its shadow onto the rings.
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