This is an image of NGC 3344, a weakly barred spiral galaxy in Leo Minor that is infrequently imaged. Roughly 1/2 the size of the Milky Way galaxy, it is about 25M l-y distant and belongs to a small group of galaxies known as the Leo spur, a branch of the giant Virgo super-cluster. Professional studies have shown a peculiar distribution of star velocities in the outer arms of the galaxy, something that isn't easily explained by influence from the central bulge or the bar.? It's possible this is the result of an interaction with a dwarf companion galaxy sometime in the past, an event that might also account for the widespread areas of star formation (pink areas) in NGC 3344.? The image was taken during four nights in Feb-Mar 2025 with a CDK 12.5" scope and a QSI-640ws camera at f/8 from SkyPi Remote Observatory. Total LRGB integration was 16 hours.

?

?

Thanks for looking,

Bruce W.