ELLIPTICAL GALAXY M105 (NGC 3379)

M105 is part of the M96 Group of Galaxies, also known as Leo 1.  It is the bright elliptical galaxy in the lower right of this image. (North is approximately down instead of the usual up).

Numerous other galaxies are present in this image, most notably M95 in the upper left, and M96 in the upper right.  There are two bright galaxies close to M105; the brightest one, at the bottom of the image, is another elliptical galaxy, NGC 3384.  The dimmer and smaller galaxy to the right of M105 is spiral galaxy NGC 3389.

(click on image for larger size):

This image was taken on 2/16/07 with a Williams Optics Zenithstar 105mm refractor at f/5.6, and an SBIG ST-10XME CCD camera.  Integration times were 12x5min for each filter (Red, Green, and Blue).  Luminance data was not obtained.