NGC 3628 - EDGE-ON SPIRAL GALAXY  Approximately 36,000 light years away in the constellation Leo. This galaxy is the dimmest of the three comprising the Leo Triplet. The other two, M65 and M66, were catalogued by Charles Messier, but this one escaped detection by state-of-the-art telescopes in the 18th century. 

Notable features of this galaxy are the prominent dust lanes that appear puffed out and distorted beyond the galactic plane. Astronomers believe that this is probably due to gravitational interaction with it's neighbor galaxies in the Leo Triplet.

L15.5/R15/G14.5/B15 no binning

Imaged at Zodiac Ranch Fort Davis, TX May 2003

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Last modified: January 1st, 2009