(left) NGC 3608, NGC 3607 and NGC 3605. The small galaxy near the right edge of the photo is MCG +03-29-18, which at magnitude 16.3 is a big-scope object. (right) NGC 2599, another bright galaxy a few arcminutes west of the trio. POSS/DSS photos.

While these four galaxies are not visually impressive individually, they make an interesting grouping for medium-size scopes. NGC 3607 is the largest and brightest of the group, appearing as a bright haze containing a bright core and slightly elongated northwest-southeast. A mere three arc-minutes to the southwest is faint NGC 3605. It contains a bright core and is noticeably extended north-south. North of 3607 is 3608, which looks very much like its neighbor to the south, only fainter.

To the west of the trio separated by about 20 arc-minutes is NGC 3599. This galaxy is at roughly the same level of difficulty as 3605. As in the other three galaxies, don't expect to see any detail other than a bright central region and a faint, enveloping haze.

How to get there:

This quartet of galaxies is located 2.5° south of Delta Leonis.

Finder chart for NGC 3599, 3605, 3607, 3608