Canon 350D Hap Griffin Baader Mod
43x180sec at iso 1600
30 Darks/Flats/Bias
APM/TMB 130/780 Refractor with AP flattener


M65 is a typical spiral galaxy that could be found anywhere in the universe. M65 has tightly wrapped spiral arms and a large nuclear center. The central stars are older and redder than disk stars, which are hotter and appear more blue.

The galaxy is low in dust and gas, and there is little star formation in it; there has been some relatively recently in the arms. The ratio of old stars to new stars is correspondingly quite high.

To the eye, M65's disk appears slightly warped, and its relatively recent burst of star formation is also suggestive of some external disturbance. Rots (1978) suggests that the two other galaxies in the Leo Triplet interacted with each other about 800 million years ago. Recent research by Zhiyu Duan suggests that M65 may also have interacted, though much less strongly. He also notes that M65 may have a central bar -- it is difficult to tell because the galaxy is seen from an oblique angle -- a feature which is suggestive of tidal disruption.

March 28, 2008