Messier 74 (M74) - The Phantom Galaxy
October 28, 2024
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The quintessential grand-design spiral galaxy, Messier 74 (M74) lies approximately 32 million light years away in Pisces. It’s spiral arms are filled both with young blue stars, and also red star-forming hydrogen regions.
The galaxy contains around 100 billion stars and is roughly the same size as the Milky Way with a span of close to 100,000 light years. Yet because it has such a low surface brightness, astronomers refer to it as the Phantom Galaxy.
Image Capture
Location:
- R: 5h 3m (101 × 180")
- G: 5h 3m (101 × 180")
Camera:
Total integration: 28h 47m
Integration per filter:
- Lum: 7h 45m (155 × 180")
- R: 5h 3m (101 × 180")
- G: 5h 3m (101 × 180")
- B: 5h 6m (102 × 180")
- Hα: 5h 50m (70 × 300")
Coordinates: 1h 36m 48s · +15° 46′ 53″
Moravian C5a-100M
Finding Chart
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Telescope
Planewave CDK12.5
Astrobin Top Pick Nomination
Awards
