This little trio is found in northern Sextans, a nondescript constellation between Leo and Hydra. Begin your star hop at 4.5 magnitude Alpha Sextantis. Slew 3.8 degrees due north and 1.5 degrees to the east. You'll be right in the midst of this grouping. The sketch at left captures their appearance at 82X in my 10-inch Newt. NGC 3169 is the brightest of the bunch, shining at magnitude 10.2. This Sa-type galaxy covers a 3'x2' area and is guarded to the east by an 10th magnitude GSC star. NGC 3166 is positioned just 8' to the southwest. This 10.4 magnitude SO/Sa-type spiral is slightly smaller than its neighbor and oriented along a east-west axis. Finally, near the southern border of the eyepiece field, 12.3 magnitude NGC 3156 is seen. A trio of 7th, 8th and 9th magnitude stars marks the location of this SO-type galaxy. Twenty-three field stars round out the sketch. Observers with larger scopes may detect 13.9 magnitude NGC 3165 about 4' southwest of NGC 3166.