NGC3628 in Leo

 

(Click on image for full size version)

 

Description: This edge-on spiral galaxy is part of the Trio in Leo together with M65 and M66.  All are gravitationally bound and this galaxy is probably being distorted by interaction with the others.  The Trio is 30 million light-years distant.
 
Exposure Data: 3/12,13/2002.  LRGB: 16x5m, 8x3m, 8x3m, 8x5m. RGB binned 2x2. -20°C, 1.0 arc-sec./pixel.
 
Processing: Reduced and aligned in Mira, L 5x CCDSharp, double size RGB and combine in Maxim. LLRGB (50%) in Photoshop. Used unsharpened L for first 50% combine. USM 80%, 7 pixels, followed by .3 Gaussian blur. Sat boost by 50%.
 
Optical System: 10” Ritchey-Chretien @ F/7.2, ST-8E NABG/CFW-8A CCD camera, STV/FSQ-106, AP900GTO mount.
 
Comments: First edge-on galaxy. Could use more color data.