M74

M74 is a face-on spiral galaxy 32 million light-years distant in the Constellation Pices. It measures about 97,000 light-years across its face, and contains an estimated 40 billion stars. It exhibits many knots of star-forming nebulae, and millions of hot blue stars forming bluish regions throughout it far-flung spiral arms.

Constellation: Pices
Distance: 32 Million Light-Years
Magnitude: 9.4
Date: October 2008
Place: Fort Davis, TX
Exposure Details: LRGB:300:150:150:150 unbinned
Processing: MaxIm DL, CCDStack, Registar, Photoshop

Optics: 12.5"RCOS Truss RC
Focal Length: 2908mm @ f9
Mount: Paramount ME
Camera: SBIG STL6303E
Focuser: RCOS
Guiding: OAG with SBIG Guide Camera
Filters: Tru-Balance LRGB 2"