Messier 95 & Messier 96 (Leo)
Fig. 1 - Pairing of photogenic spiral galaxies: M95 and M96 in the constellation Leo, photographed with an 8-inch f/5 newtonian reflector on a ZWO AM5 mount.
| Object name: | Constellation: | Coordinates: | Apparent size: | Visual brightness: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Messier 95 (NGC 3351) | Leo | 10h44m / +11°42' | 7.4' x 5.0' | 9.7 mag |
| Messier 96 (NGC 3368) | Leo | 10h47m / +11°49' | 7.8' x 5.2' | 9.2 mag |
The barred spiral galaxiy Messier 95 (NGC 3351) and the intermediate spiral galaxy Messier 96 (NGC 3368) in the constellation Leo. Messier 95 and Messier 96 (together with Messier 105) belong to the Leo I group of galaxies within the Virgo Supercluster. Both galaxies are approximately 30 million light-years from Earth and were discovered by French astronomer Pierre Méchain in in 1781 (source: Wikipedia).
One-hundred and thirty-five 1-minute exposures (135 minutes total exposure) at gain 100 and -10°C, taken on April 2, 2024, were added for this shot with Astro Pixel Processor (APP) software and the final image processing was done in Photoshop. Darks, flats, and darkflats were used.
Equipment: Cooled ASI 2600MC Pro camera, TeleVue Paracorr Type II coma corrector, 8" f/5 "ONTC" newtonian telescope riding on a ZWO AM5 Strain Wave Mount, ZWO OAG-L off axis system, ASI 174MM Mini guide camera, ASIAIR Plus.
Fig. 2 - Search chart for Messier 95 and Messier 96. Copyright 2024 'The Mag-7 Star Atlas Project', www.siaris.net.