NGC 3628 is a member of the popular galaxy triplet in the constellation Leo (along with M65 and M66). It is a fascinating edge-on spiral undergoing some sort of major disturbance. A broad dust lane hides much of the galaxy's turbulent center and disk from view. Two plumes of neutral hydrogen radio mapped in 2 directions provide insight into the galaxy's eruptive nature. X-ray observations indicate the plumes likely arise from within the galaxy's nucleus either due to starburst activity or to a highly energetic core.

Unfortunately, the poor weather we had in the Northeast this Spring did not permit the completion of the color channels necessary to produce the final LRGB image. I hope to do that next year.

Image Technical Details:

Date: March - April, 2008

Optics: Cave 10" newtonian

Mount: Paramount ME

Camera/ capture software: SBIG ST8XME CCD; Astrodon series E filters; 11 hours of luminance data; 5min subexposure time; CCDsoftV5, The Sky 6

Processing: CCDstack; Photoshop CS