When it comes to obscure objects, Copeland’s Septet (also called Hickson Compact Group 57) ranks with the best of them. Ralph Copeland discovered this group in the spring of 1874 while employed by William Parsons, Earl of Rosse, in Ireland. He was using the Leviathan, a 72-inch speculum mirror telescope at Birr Castle. At that time, it was the largest telescope in the world, enabling him to pick up faint galaxies with relative ease.
Located 3° northwest of 93 Leonis, this group is un