by Bob Franke
Taken on 12/8/2009 to 12/18/2009 in Chino Valley, AZ
RCOS 12.5" Ritchey-Chrétien w/ an SBIG STL-11000 camera using Astrodon filters
Exposure Details:
Lum 405 min. (27 x 15 min)
RGB 225 min. ( 5 x 15 min each)
North is to the top.
M74 (also known as NGC 628) is a perfect example of a face on grand design Galaxy. Discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780, the galaxy is located in the constellation Pisces, at a distance of about 30 million light-years. With its low surface brightness, M74 is the most difficult Messier object to observe visually. However, long photographic exposures reveal beautiful spiral arms with blue star clusters and red HII star forming regions.