Leo Triplet

The Leo Triplet (also known as the M66 Group) is a small group of galaxies about 35 million light-years away^[5] in the constellation Leo. This galaxy group consists of the spiral galaxies M65, M66, and NGC 3628.

ConstellationLeo

Right ascension11^h 17^m^[1]^[2]

Declination+13° 25′^[1]^[2]

Brightest memberM66^[1]^[2]

Quick facts Observation data (Epoch J2000), Constellation ...

Leo Triplet
The Leo Triplet, with M65 (right top), M66 (right bottom) and NGC 3628 (left). North is to the left.
Observation data (Epoch J2000)
Constellation	Leo
Right ascension	11^h 17^m^[1]^[2]
Declination	+13° 25′^[1]^[2]
Brightest member	M66^[1]^[2]
Number of galaxies	3-5^[1]^[2]^[3]
Other designations
M66 Group, Arp 317,^[4] LGG 231,^[1] NOGG P1 533,^[2] NOGG P2 543^[2]

Members

The table below lists galaxies that have been consistently identified as group members in the Nearby Galaxies Catalog,^[3] the Lyons Groups of Galaxies (LGG) Catalog,^[1] and the group lists created from the Nearby Optical Galaxy sample of Giuricin et al.^[2]

Member list

More information Name, Type ...

**Members of the Leo Triplet**
Name	Type^[6]	R.A. (J2000)^[6]	Dec. (J2000)^[6]	Redshift (km/s)^[6]	Apparent Magnitude
M65	SAB(rs)a	11^h 18^m 56.0^s	+13° 05′ 32″	807 ± 3	9.3^[7]
M66	SAB(s)b	11^h 20^m 15.0^s	+12° 59′ 30″	727 ± 3	8.9^[8]
NGC 3628	SAb pec	11^h 20^m 17.0^s	+13° 35′ 23″	843 ± 1	9.5^[9]

Additionally, some of the references cited above indicate that one or two other nearby galaxies may be group members. NGC 3593 is frequently but not consistently identified as a member of this group.

Nearby groups

The M96 Group is located physically near the Leo Triplet.^[10] These two groups may actually be separate parts of a much larger group,^[10] and some group identification algorithms actually identify the Leo Triplet as part of the M96 Group.^[2]^[11]

References

[1]
A. Garcia (1993). "General study of group membership. II – Determination of nearby groups". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement. 100: 47–90. Bibcode:1993A&AS..100...47G.
[2]
G. Giuricin; C. Marinoni; L. Ceriani; A. Pisani (2000). "Nearby Optical Galaxies: Selection of the Sample and Identification of Groups". Astrophysical Journal. 543 (1): 178–194. arXiv:astro-ph/0001140. Bibcode:2000ApJ...543..178G. doi:10.1086/317070. S2CID 9618325.
[3]
R. B. Tully (1988). Nearby Galaxies Catalog. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-35299-1.
[4]
H. Arp (1966). "Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies". Astrophysical Journal Supplement. 14: 1–20. Bibcode:1966ApJS...14....1A. doi:10.1086/190147.
[5]
VST Looks at the Leo Triplet — and Beyond
[6]
"NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for various galaxies. Retrieved 2006-10-24.
[7]
"Messier 65". SEDS Messier Catalog. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
[8]
"Messier 66". SEDS Messier Catalog. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
[9]
"NGC 3628". SEDS NGC Catalog. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
[10]
L. Ferrarese, H. C. Ford, J. Huchra, R. C. Kennicutt Jr., J. R. Mould, S. Sakai, W. L. Freedman, P. B. Stetson, B. F. Madore, B. K. Gibson, J. A. Graham, S. M. Hughes, G. D. Illingworth, D. D. Kelson, L. Macri, K. Sebo, N. A. Silbermann (2000). "A Database of Cepheid Distance Moduli and Tip of the Red Giant Branch, Globular Cluster Luminosity Function, Planetary Nebula Luminosity Function, and Surface Brightness Fluctuation Data Useful for Distance Determinations". Astrophysical Journal Supplement. 128 (2): 431–459. arXiv:astro-ph/9910501. Bibcode:2000ApJS..128..431F. doi:10.1086/313391. S2CID 121612286.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
[11]
P. Fouque, E. Gourgoulhon, P. Chamaraux, G. Paturel; Gourgoulhon; Chamaraux; Paturel (1992). "Groups of galaxies within 80 Mpc. II – The catalogue of groups and group members". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement. 93: 211–233. Bibcode:1992A&AS...93..211F.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Members

Member list

Nearby groups

See also

References

External links

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