Messier 65, also cataloged as NGC 3623, is a barred spiral galaxy in Leo that presents a beautifully elongated, edge-on-leaning profile spanning roughly 16′ × 4.5′ in the eyepiece and camera frame. Its slender orientation and prominent dust lane make it a rewarding subject for astrophotographers seeking structure and contrast rather than a broad face-on disk. With a physical diameter of about 125,000 light-years and a distance of some 27.0 million light-years, this galaxy is bright enough for modest apertures yet detailed enough to reward long integration times. Longer exposures under dark skies bring out the tightly wound spiral arms, the golden central bulge, and the sharp dust lanes that define its silhouette.
Names and Catalog numbers
- M 65 (Messier 65)
- NGC 3623
- UGC 6328
- PGC 34612
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
Located in Leo at right ascension 11h 18m 55.9s and declination +13° 05′ 32″, Messier 65 (NGC 3623) is one of the anchor members of the celebrated Leo Triplet. It shares a narrow field with its bright siblings Messier 66 and NGC 3628, allowing all three galaxies to be captured together in a single wide-field frame with a short focal length. This makes the region a favorite for astrophotographers, who can showcase three distinct galactic morphologies side by side within a few degrees of sky. Framing the trio requires careful composition, but the payoff is one of the most iconic galaxy groupings accessible to amateur equipment.
Nice to Know
- Messier 65 is a cornerstone of the famous Leo Triplet, one of the most photographed galaxy groups in the northern sky.
- Its elongated, near edge-on presentation delivers a striking dust lane that stands out even in modest imaging setups.
- The galaxy carries multiple designations, including NGC 3623, UGC 6328, and PGC 34612.
- At an apparent size of 16′ × 4.5′, it pairs perfectly with a wide-field rig to include its companion galaxies in the same shot.
Brightness, distance and size
It lies about 27.0 million light-years from Earth and spans roughly 125,000 light-years across. On the sky it appears about 16′ × 4.5′ in size.
