M74 = NGC628 ( 1h 36.7m +15°47´, 9.2 mag. )
This spiral galaxy in Pisces was discovered by Mechain in September 1780 and Messier observed it on October 18, 1780. At the distance of 32 million ly, it is 97,000 ly across.
M74 (spiral galaxy)
This is one of the 13 constellations of the Zodiac.
M74-the Effects of Astronomical Seeing provides a useful split-frame image of the galaxy M74 that shows the effect that atmospheric turbulence has in the resolution obtainable from ground-based observations.
Otra imagen de M74 con sobreposición ultravioleta y visible.
(152K GIF)
Esta es una imagen de la galaxia espiral M81 en Osa mayor, con sobreposición ultravioleta y visible.
(143K GIF) ...
M74 (NGC 628, spiral galaxy)
M76 (NGC 650, Little Dumbbell Nebula)
M80 (NGC 6093, globular cluster)
M81 (NGC 3031, spiral galaxy)
M82 (NGC 3034, companion to M81)
M87 (NGC 4486, elliptical galaxy)
M97 (NGC 3587, Owl Nebula) ...
M74, for example, has been labeled by many as the most difficult Messier object and I can attest to that since it was the very last Messier object I found while completing my Messier list. Its magnitude is a "bright" 9.
This is M74. It is a beautiful spiral around 95,000 light-years in diameter. It is located about 35 million light-years from Earth. It is moving away from us at nearly 800 km/sec.
The best deep sky object in Pisces is M74, the only Messier in the constellation. M74 (NGC 628) is a spiral galaxy seen face on. It's about 22 million light years away, and one of the faintest Messiers. The larger the scope, the better.
Pisces -- northeast of Algenib (Gamma Pegasi), southeast of Alpheratz (Alpha Andromedae), southwest of Delta Andromedae and Mirach (Beta Andromedae), west of the Triangulum Galaxy (M33) and Sheratan (Beta Arietis), and northwest of spiral galaxy M74 ...
On the left is Eris, as shown after 13 billion years. On the right is M74; a spiral galaxy similar to the Milky Way. Both are coloured to show gas clouds in red and stars in blue. Image: University of Zurich & NASA.
Pisces is seen along the between Aries and Aquarius. The brightest star in Pisces (Alpha Psc) is Al Rischa (or Alrisha), the second-brightest-star (Beta Psc) is Fum al Samakah. The spiral galaxy M74 is in Pisces.
The galaxy M74 is a prototype of a Sc spiral. To see more than the bright core very good observing conditions are necessary. Under such circumstances a scope with an aperture of about 100mm reveals a bit of the spiral arms.
For scale, the inset shows the angular size of the Moon. (b) This false-color image of the spiral galaxy M74 was made by an ultraviolet telescope aboard the Astro payload carried by a space shuttle in 1990 and 1995.
 See also: Star, Earth, Galaxy, Planet, Spiral Galaxy
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