Astronz Object of the Week: The Leo Triplet

If you’ve ever wanted to look deep into the past, the Leo Triplet is your golden ticket. Nestled in the constellation Leo, this group of three spiral galaxies—M65, M66, and NGC 3628—offers one of the most striking galaxy groupings visible from Earth. Even with a modest telescope, you can catch all three galaxies in a single field of view. It’s a breathtaking reminder of how vast and beautiful our universe really is.

Why it’s cool:

Each of the galaxies in the Leo Triplet is around 35 million light-years away. That means the light you’re seeing left those galaxies around the time Earth’s earliest primates were just beginning to evolve. It’s like a cosmic time machine, and it’s happening right above your head.

What you’ll need:

You can glimpse the Leo Triplet with a 6” Dobsonian telescope under dark skies, but an 8” or larger scope will show you more detail—like the dusty lane of NGC 3628 (often called the “Hamburger Galaxy” for its shape) and the beautiful spiral arms of M65 and M66.

For those wanting to take it a step further, a planetary or deep sky camera paired with tracking will let you start capturing long exposures and bring out the structure in these galaxies.

When to look:

April is the prime time to catch the Leo Triplet—Leo is high in the sky after sunset, especially for southern observers in New Zealand. Aim your telescope about halfway between the stars Chertan and Iota Leonis, and you’ll be in the right patch of sky.

Gear up at Astronz:

We’ve got everything you need to catch the Leo Triplet and more—from beginner-friendly Dobsonians to astrophotography gear to help you dive even deeper into the cosmos. Not sure where to start? Chat with our experts—we’re here to help you find the perfect telescope for your stargazing journey.