| Messier Object 74, M 74 |
Spiral Galaxy in Pisces |
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| Image Information |
| Date Imaged |
10/20/2006 |
| Location Imaged From |
Tierra del Sol , CA
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| Equipment |
Optics/ Camera - Orion 80ED/ Canon Digital Rebel (unmodified)
Optics/ Camera - Meade 10" f/6.3 LX 200/ SBIG ST-7e
Mount: LX200/Ulti-Wedge |
| Exposure Information |
Canon DSLR: 15 X 5 minutes, SBIG ST-7e - 31 X 2 Minute
Luminance: 31 X 2 minutes
Luninace data taken with the SBIG ST-7e was combined with the color data
taken with the Canon Digital Rebel to produce this image |
| Messier 74 (also known as NGC 628) is a face-on spiral galaxy in the constellation Pisces. The galaxy contains two clearly-defined spiral arms and is therefore used as an archetypal example of a Grand Design Spiral Galaxy. The galaxy's low surface brightness makes it the most difficult Messier object for amateur astronomers to observe. However, the relatively large angular size of the galaxy and the galaxy's face-on orientation make it an ideal object for professional astronomers who want to study spiral arm structure and spiral density waves. |
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