Messier 74

Messier 74
The spiral galaxy M74 (in the left bottom corner is the supernova SN 2013ej)
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationPisces[1]
Right ascension01h 36m 41.8s[2]
Declination+15° 47′ 01″[2]
Redshift657 km/s[2]
Distance30 ± 6 Mly[3]
Apparent magnitude (V)9.4[4]
Characteristics
TypeSA(s)c[2]
Number of stars100 billion (1×1011)
Size95,000 ly (diameter)[5]
Apparent size (V)10′.5 × 9′.5[2]
Other designations
NGC 628, UGC 1149, PGC 5974[2]

Messier 74 (also known as NGC 628 and Phantom Galaxy) is a large spiral galaxy in the equatorial constellation Pisces.[a] It is about 32 million light-years away from Earth.[6] The galaxy contains two clearly defined spiral arms and is therefore used as an archetypal example of a grand design spiral galaxy.[7] The galaxy's low surface brightness makes it the most difficult Messier object for amateur astronomers to observe.[8][9] Its relatively large angular (that is, apparent) size 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. It is estimated that M74 hosts about 100 billion stars.[6]

  1. ^ R. W. Sinnott, ed. (1988). The Complete New General Catalogue and Index Catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters by J. L. E. Dreyer. Sky Publishing Corporation / Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-933346-51-2.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference ned was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference hendryetal2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Messier 74". SEDS Messier Catalog. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Messier Object 74".
  6. ^ a b Nemiroff, R.; Bonnell, J., eds. (2011-04-06). "M74: The Perfect Spiral". Astronomy Picture of the Day. NASA. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
  7. ^ A. Sandage; J. Bedke (1994). Carnegie Atlas of Galaxies. Carnegie Institution of Washington. ISBN 978-0-87279-667-6.
  8. ^ S. J. O'Meara (1998). The Messier Objects. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-55332-2.
  9. ^ K. G. Jones (1991). Messier's Nebulae and Star Clusters (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-37079-0.


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