Constellation of the Month: April
Leo Sign of the Zodiac (The Lion)

by: John Mirtle.
Page last updated: May 3, 2004

Contents
Small Scope Objects    Big Scope Objects    Challenge Objects    Maps    Photos

Small Scope Objects:

Name R.A. Decl. Details
  M65!
(NGC 3623)		 11hr 18.9m +13° 05' A large, bright Sa/Sb spiral galaxy. 7.8 x 1.6 arc minutes, magnitude 10.2. Very high surface brighness showing good detail in medium sized 'scopes.
  M66!
(NGC 3627)		 11hr 20.2m +12° 59' Another bright Sb galaxy, only 21 arc minutes from M65. Slightly brighter at mag. 9.7, measuring 8.0 x 2.5 arc minutes.
  M95
(NGC 3351)		 10hr 44.0m +11° 42' An easy SBb barred spiral, 4 x 3 arc minutes in size. Magnitude 10.5, with a bright central core. The bar and outer ring of material will require larger aperature and dark skies.
  M96
(NGC 3368)		 10hr 46.8m +11° 49' Another bright Sb spiral, about 42 arc minutes east of M95, but larger and brighter. 6 x 4 arc minutes, magnitude 10.1.
  M105
(NGC 3379)		 10hr 47.8m +12° 35' Located about 48 arc minutes NNE of M96. This small elliptical galaxy measures only 2 x 2.1 arc minutes, but at mag. 10.3 has very high surface brightness. Look for NGC 3384! (110NGC) and NGC 3389 (mag 11.0 and 12.2) which form a small triangle with M105.
  NGC 3384! 10hr 48.3m +12° 38' See comment for M105.
  NGC 2903!! 09hr 32.2m +21° 30' The brightest galaxy in Leo, this Sb/Sc spiral galaxy shines at mag. 9.5. Look for a hazy patch 11 x 4.7 arc minutes in size 1.5° south of l Leonis. Lots of detail visible on 8" and larger 'scopes. (110NGC)
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Big Scope Objects:

Name R.A. Decl. Details
  NGC 3628! 11hr 20.3m +13° 36' This beautiful edge-on Sb spiral fits in the same low power field as M65/M66. Mag. 10.3, 12 x 2 arc minutes in size. Dust lane visible under good skies. (110NGC)
  NGC 3190 Group 10hr 18m +21° 50' Consisting of NGC 3190, 3185, 3187 and 3193. Three spirals and one elliptical galaxy, ranging from mag. 12.1 to 13.4.
  NGC 3607! 11hr 16.9m +18° 03' A bright elliptical galaxy, 5.5 x 5 arc minutes, glowing at mag 9.9. Look for NGC 3605 and NGC 3608 in the same field. (110NGC)
  NGC 3377 10hr 48m +13° 59' A bright 11.2 mag ellptical galaxy, 5.2 x 2.9 arc minutes. Look for 15.1 mag. NGC 3377A 6.8 arc minutes NW.
  NGC 3655 11hr 23m +16° 35' A compact 12.3 mag Sc galaxy, 1.5 x 0.9 arc minutes.
  NGC 3521! 11hr 05.8m -00° 02' A bright Sb spiral galaxy, mag 9.8, 9.5 x 5 arc minutes (110NGC)
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Challenge Objects:

Name R.A. Decl. Details
  Leo I 10hr 08m +12° 18' A faint E3 Dwarf elliptical galaxy, 0.3° N of Regulus. Mag 9.8, 10.7 x 8.3 arc minutes, very low surface brightness. Use medium power to remove Regulus from field, clean optics and good skies essential.
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Constellation Maps:

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Lines No Lines Reverse Reverse No Lines No Map

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Photos:


 
Photo 1
South is at top to match the view in an inverting telescope.
Photo credit: John Mirtle.
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