Astrophotography by Keith B. Quattrocchi

 To View the APOD Version (May 15, 2008), Please Click Here to Be Redirected 

NGC 3628
Edge on Spiral Galaxy in Leo
LRGB Image
 
Published: 
 APOD May 15, 2008
Astronomy: "Deep Sky Treats" by James O'Meara (pg 58): October  
Astronomy : "Spectacular Universe" 2011, pg 35

Copyright 2008
Keith B Quattrochi 

 Image Acquisition Information                      
 
Telescope:   16" RCOS Ritchey-Chretien Telescope (ion milled at f/9) 
Camera: SBIG STL-6303 M
Guiding: SBIG AOL,  Astrodon  MOAG AOG (SBIG 237 with FLR)
Filters: Astrodon L. R. G, B
Mount:  Software Bisque Paramount ME
 Acquisition Programs:   The Sky,CCDAutopliot III, CCD Soft. 
Processing Programs: CCDStack, Maxim DL, Photoshop
Date: April 24 - May 1, 2008                               
Time: 15x20 min ( 5 hours) each for L, R, G, B: total 20 hrs                           
Processing:  CCD Stack and PhotoShop CS/3
 
Image Infornmation:  Edge on spiral galaxy in Leo at about 35 million light years distant.  The distorted shape of the galaxy is felt to be due to the interaction of NGC 3628 and it's neighbors, M66 and M65.  In  the upper left the "tidal tail" can be faintly seen.  This is beleived to be made up of small blue stars in large clusters, formed by gravitational tidal forces from these nearby galaxies.   
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Additional Comments:  Image processing with CCDStack, producing an RGB.  The RGB and Luminance images were combined in Photoshop CS/3.   Furthere data stretching, high pass filtering and background smoothing (Kodac Gem) performed with Adobe Photoshop CS/3.