The Messier Ten Minute Challenge

M74 - Galaxy in Pisces

Click here for a review of the strengths and weaknesses of the Global Rent-A-Scope operation.

This image was created by median combining 7 x 90 second unfiltered images taken with a Takahashi Epsilon 250 with SBIG ST-8XE CCD. The image has been cut down to be 20 x 20 arc minutes in size.

Messier 74 (NGC 628) is a prime example of a spiral galaxy but with its low surface brightness it is one of the more difficult objects in Messier objects. Situated at a distance of about 35 million light years it has a diameter of about 95,000 light years - roughly the same as the Milky Way. There are an amazing 193 known HII regions in the spiral arms.

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In collaboration with the Remote Astronomical Society Observatory

Martin Nicholson - Daventry, United Kingdom.

This page was last updated on April 15th 2009.