Leo Triplet

Not to be confused with Leo Cluster or Leo I Group.

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(s)	Leo
Right ascension	11h 17m[1][2]
Declination	+13° 25′[1][2]
Number of galaxies	3-5[1][2][3]
Brightest member	M66[1][2]
Other designations
M66 Group, Arp 317,[4] LGG 231,[1] NOGG P1 533,[2] NOGG P2 543[2]
See also: Galaxy groups and clusters, List of galaxy clusters
v · d · e

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, the M66, and the NGC 3628.

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]

Members of the Leo Triplet

Name	Type[6]	R.A. (J2000)[6]	Dec. (J2000)[6]	Redshift (km/s)[6]	Apparent Magnitude[6]
M65	SAB(rs)a	11h 18m 56.0s	+13° 05′ 32″	807 ± 3	10.3
M66	SAB(s)b	11h 20m 15.0s	+12° 59′ 30″	727 ± 3	9.7
NGC 3628	SAb pec	11h 20m 17.0s	+13° 35′ 23″	843 ± 1	9.4

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.^[7] These two groups may actually be separate parts of a much larger group,^[7] and some group identification algorithms actually identify the Leo Triplet as part of the M96 Group.^[2][8]

Gallery

• 

  VST's view of the Leo Triplet and beyond^[9]. This image hints at the power of the ESO's VST and OmegaCAM for surveying the extragalactic Universe.

See also

• NGC 5866 Group - another small group of galaxies

External links

• The Leo Triplett (M66 group)
• The Leo Triplet on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} 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. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} 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. 
3. ^ ^{a b} 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. ^ ^{a b c d e} "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for various galaxies. http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/. Retrieved 2006-10-24. 
7. ^ ^{a b} 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. 
8. ^ P. Fouque, E. Gourgoulhon, P. Chamaraux, G. 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. 
9. ^ "VST Looks at the Leo Triplet — and Beyond". ESO Photo Release. http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1126/. Retrieved 27 July 2011. 

Coordinates: 11^h 17^m 00^s, +13° 25′ 00″