This narrow-field image of the galaxythe twelfth-magnitude spiral galaxy NGC 2566 in Puppis highlights both the larger galaxy (3.5 arcmin long) and three smaller galaxies in a string below, running diagonally right and down:

PGC 23291 (lenticular galaxy, magnitude 14.9, distance unknown)

PGC 23301 (spiral, magnitude 16.2, distance unknown)

IC 2311 (elliptical, magnitude 12.5, distance est 96m light years)

With an atlas, we can also identify the very small galaxy LEDA 86194 (magntidue 16.7, but stellar in appearance because of its great distance.

The field of this image is only 21.5 arcmin wide (about 2/3 of the size of the moon).

Object: Galaxy NGC 2566

Location: Pinyon Flat Astronomical Observatory

Optics: Celestron C9.25 with f/6.3 focal reducer

Camera: Nikon D5100

Guiding: B&L 4" SCT piggybacked with PhD

Exposure: 30x120sec (60 minutes) at ISO800

Stacking: DeepSky Stacker with flats and darks

Processing: PixInsight

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 09: D.C. United

fans cheer during second half against the Los Angeles Galaxythe second at RFK Stadium on April 9, 2011 in Washington, DC. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Located 31 million light-years from Earth, the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) is gravitationally connected to another, smaller galaxy, leading to a “bridge” of stars between the two.

More details: urbanastrophotography.com/.../the-whirlpool-galaxy/