🌟 Three spiral galaxies in one view
The Leo Triplet includes Messier 65 (M65), Messier 66 (M66), and NGC 3628, all within about 1° of sky—making it possible to view all three in a single wide-field eyepiece under dark skies.

🌟 Striking Variety in Structure
Each galaxy offers something different. M65 is smooth and tightly wound. M66 shows a warped spiral shape from gravitational interactions. NGC 3628 is seen edge-on with a dramatic dust lane—earning it the nickname “The Hamburger Galaxy.”

🌟 A Showcase of Gravitational Interaction
These galaxies are actively tugging on one another, distorting their shapes—a compelling glimpse into how galaxies evolve through interaction and mergers.

🌟 A Deep Sky Favorite
The Triplet is a classic springtime target in Leo, and a favorite among both visual observers and astrophotographers for its drama and beauty.

🌟 Suitable for Medium to Large Scopes
You can see M65 and M66 even in small telescopes, but all three galaxies—and their fine structure—really come alive in 8-inch and larger scopes, especially under Bortle 5 or darker skies.

🌟 A Rewarding Challenge
While not as bright as M31 or M81, the Leo Triplet offers a satisfying challenge that deepens your skill in spotting galaxies and reading subtle contrast in the eyepiece.

Find the constellation Leo below the Big Dipper. Identify its main stars especially bright Regulus (+1.4) and much dimmer Chertan (+3.32) 16° away.

Using a binocular or a telescope finder, point to Chertan.

Using a binocular or telescope eyepiece with low power, hop a bit more than 2° to the target.

✅ Choose a dark sky location.
The galaxies in the Leo Triplet (M65, M66, and NGC 3628) are relatively bright but have low surface brightness, so a dark sky with minimal light pollution is essential to see all three clearly.

✅ Use a medium to large telescope.
While M65 and M66 can be glimpsed in smaller scopes, a telescope of 6 inches or more will help reveal the third and faintest member, NGC 3628, and bring out more structure in all three.

✅ Scan the area just below the star Chertan (Theta Leonis).
The Triplet lies about halfway between Chertan and Iota Leonis.

✅ Use low to medium power for framing.
All three galaxies fit within a 1° field of view, so start with a low-power eyepiece (around 50x–70x) to frame the entire triplet, then increase magnification to study each galaxy individually.

✅ Look for their unique shapes.
M65 is elongated and smooth, M66 is slightly warped with a bright core and hints of spiral structure, and NGC 3628 is an edge-on spiral with a broad dust lane—often called the “Hamburger Galaxy.”

✅ Try averted vision to enhance detail.
For fainter features like the dust lane in NGC 3628 or outer spiral arms in M66, looking slightly off to the side helps your eyes detect subtle contrast better.

✅ Observe when Leo is high in the sky.
The best time to view the Triplet is during late winter to spring, when Leo is near the meridian and the galaxies are higher in the sky, reducing atmospheric distortion.

✅ Be patient and revisit.
Galaxies reveal more detail the longer you observe. Spend time on each one individually, and revisit them under different conditions—you’ll often spot features you missed before.

❌ Naked Eye
The Leo Triplet is completely invisible to the naked eye.

⚠️ Binoculars
The Leo Triplet remains out of reach for binoculars under most sky conditions, though the brightest members may show up as the faintest smudges under very dark skies.

✅ Small Telescope
In a small telescope, Messier 65 and Messier 66 appear as soft, elongated glows, while NGC 3628 is much more elusive and often barely detectable, requiring averted vision.

✅ Medium Telescope
With a medium telescope under dark skies, all three galaxies are visible in the same field at low power: M65 and M66 reveal their bright cores and some shape, while NGC 3628 begins to show its classic edge-on form with hints of a dark dust lane.

✅ Large Telescope
In a large telescope, the triplet becomes a rich, detailed scene—M65 shows a smooth, tilted spiral structure, M66 displays a more disturbed, asymmetric shape with brighter arms, and NGC 3628 stretches across the field with its dramatic dust lane clearly cutting through its glowing disk, offering a vivid glimpse of galactic diversity and interaction.

🟣 In Bortle 1–2 skies, the Leo Triplet is a beautiful and balanced grouping. All three galaxies are clearly visible and well separated in a single wide field. M65 and M66 appear as glowing, slightly elongated spirals with bright cores and subtle halos, while NGC 3628 is a striking, edge-on slab with a broad, dark dust lane cutting across its middle. The faint outer structures of the galaxies become visible with patient observation—revealing gradients, slight asymmetries, and an interconnected presence against a dark, star-filled backdrop.

🔵 In Bortle 3–4 skies, the triplet is still an excellent target. M65 and M66 remain fairly bright and recognizable, although their halos appear less extended and more diffuse. NGC 3628 is visible but begins to lose its dust lane unless skies are very transparent. The background stars are reduced, and the field loses some of its depth, but the triplet still presents an engaging and satisfying view.

🟡 In Bortle 5–6 skies, the grouping becomes more challenging. M65 and M66 are still detectable as soft, oval glows, but they show little structure and appear dimmer. NGC 3628 fades significantly, and its elongated shape may only be hinted at. The dust lane is no longer visible, and the three galaxies lose their visual balance as a group. The sky background is bright enough that the galaxies blend in more, making them harder to distinguish from faint stars or skyglow.

🟠 In Bortle 7+ skies, the Leo Triplet is severely diminished. M65 and M66 may be barely visible as faint smudges, and NGC 3628 is likely invisible without large aperture and excellent seeing. The trio no longer appears as a cohesive group, and the surrounding star field is sparse. Most of the visual impact and subtle structure is lost to light pollution.