M65

Credits: Keith Turnecliff, Nerja, Spain

Messier 65 (M65) is an intermediate spiral galaxy that forms the Leo Triplet with the nearby Messier 66 and NGC 3628
The three galaxies are located in the constellation Leo. M65 lies at a distance of about 35 million light years from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 10.25. It has the designation NGC 3623 in the New General Catalogue.

Facts about M65 by Keith Turnecliff

Thanks to its high surface brightness, it is visible even in small binoculars and appears as an oval shaped patch, along with its bright neighbour M66. Small telescopes begin to reveal the structure of the pair, with a bright central core surrounded by a thin disk of light. To see the third member of the Leo Triplet, however, one needs at least a 6-inch telescope. Larger telescopes reveal the dark dust lanes and other details of M65.
The best time of year to observe M65 is during the spring.