Copyright © 2007 Larry Phillips

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M96, Spiral galaxy in the constellation Leo

Cataloged as NGC 3368

M96 is the brightest member of the Leo I group of galaxies, which is therefore also called the M96 group.

Distance: 38 million light years.
Size: 66,000 light years for the portion prominent in this photo. Dimmer regions
                not visible in the image bring the size to 100,0000 light years in diameter.
Camera: SBIG ST-2000XM
Telescope: Astrophysics Starfire 130 EDT F8
Mount: Losmandy G11 with Gemini Control with Advanced Telescope Systems
                portable pier
Images: 10 luminance @ 5 minutes each for a total exposure time of
                50 minutes. There for this is only a monochrome image and really needs
                much more imaging time to bring out the color and the fainter outer
                regions.
Date: November 2007
Software: Camera and guider control - CCDSoft, Calibration and stacking, Creation of
                color image - CCDStack, further processing in Photoshop CS2.