M66, NGC3627

M66 is a spiral galaxy of type Sb in the constellation Leo. At a distance of about 35 million light-years, M66 apparently forms a triplet with its neighbors M65 and NGC3628, as seen in this lower resolution but wider field image. This image was taken with the WIYN 0.9-meter telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory on the nights of December 19th and 20th 2002 UT. Image size 9.1x11.3 arc minutes.