Spiral Galaxy in Pisces
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Messier 74 is a fine example of a face-on galaxy with large, loose spiral arms and a fairly small, condensed nucleus. Although its magnitude suggests that it should be fairly easy to observe with a small telescope, its low surface brightness actually makes it fairly challenging to detect.
| Magnitude | 9.2 |
| Apparent Size | 10' x 9' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 32 million |
| Right Ascension | 1:36.7 |
| Declination | +15 47 |
| Field of View | 29' x 22' |
Image details: Exposure times of 147 minutes luminance and 30 minutes each of red, green, and blue, taken with an SBIG ST-8300M imager and a 14" Meade LX850 telescope at f/6.
December 2014