Object: M65, NGC3623
Type: Spiral galaxy, type Sa
Constellation: Leo
Location: RA: 11h 18m 55s DEC: +13° 05' 35" (E 2000)
Brightness: 10,1
Size: 9.7' x 2.8'

Object: M66, NGC3627
Type: Spiral galaxy, type Sb
Constellation: Leo
Location: RA: 11h 20m 14s DEC: +12° 59' 42" (E 2000)
Brightness: 9,6
Size: 9.2' x 4.2'

Object: NGC3628
Type: Galaxy
Constellation: Lew (Leo)
Location: RA: 11h 20m 16s DEC: +13° 35' 22" (E 2000)
Brightness: 10,5
Size: 14.7' x 2.9'

This is a trio of bright galaxies in constellation Leo. M65 and M66 were discovered by Charles Messier in 1780. The dimmest NGC3628 apparently escaped his attention and was discovered by Hershel.

M65 is a tightly wound spiral galaxy with visible dark dust lanes. The bright bulge is dominated by old stars. Young stars and active star forming regions are apparently hidden by the thick dust.

M66 i a larger and brighter companion to M65. The spiral arms are notably deformed, most likely by gravitational interactions with it's neighbours. There are many star forming regions visible. M66 was a host galaxy to 3 supernovae: 1973R, 1989B i 1997bs.

NGC 3628 is the dimmest of the trio. It is oriented almost edge-on, so we see the prominent dust lane, which hides the central bulge and brightest stars.

Estimated distance to the group is 35 million light years.