Messier 74

Hubble captured this face-on spiral galaxy at visible and infrared wavelengths.

Distance

32 million light-years

Apparent Magnitude

10.0

constellation

Pisces

object type

Spiral Galaxy

M74
This Hubble image of M74 is a composite of exposures taken in 2003 and 2005 at visible and infrared wavelengths. A small segment of this image used data from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and the Gemini Observatory to fill in a region that Hubble did not observe.
NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration; Acknowledgment: R. Chandar (University of Toledo) and J. Miller (University of Michigan)

A stunning face-on spiral galaxy, M74 was discovered in 1780 by Charles Messier’s observing assistant, the French astronomer Pierre Méchain. M74 is located roughly 32 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation Pisces. With a low surface brightness and an apparent magnitude of only 10, the galaxy appears as a faint patch of light through small telescopes and is one of the most difficult Messier objects to observe. The best time to look for it in the sky is during November.

M74 is a perfect example of a grand-design spiral galaxy. Symmetrical spiral arms reach out from the galaxy’s central nucleus and are traced by winding dust lanes. The arms are dotted with clusters of young, blue stars and pink regions where the ultraviolet light from these young stars has ionized clouds of hydrogen and caused them to glow.

For more information about Hubble’s observations of M74, see:

locator star chart for M74
This star chart for M74 represents the view from mid-northern latitudes for the given month and time.
Image courtesy of Stellarium
locator star chart for M74
This star chart for M74 represents the view from mid-southern latitudes for the given month and time.
Image courtesy of Stellarium

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