Phantom Galaxy
Galaxy

Phantom Galaxy

M 74 · Pisces
These photons are ~32 million years old
UV/IR
Date
2025-09-25
Location
36.3858° N, 28.0412° E
Integration
27m (161 × 10s)
Software
ZWO Seestar app
Notes
—
Plate solve
Centre RA
1h 36m 50.0s
Centre Dec
+16° 03′ 17″
Field
42.8′ × 76.0′
Pixel scale
2.38″/px
Orientation
-133.0° E of N
TelescopeZWO Seestar S50
CameraZWO Seestar S50 Camera
RigFamily Holiday Rig
Captured from · Ελλάς
36.3858° N, 28.0412° E · open map ↗

Where to find it

Interactive sky chart centred on 1 36 50.0 +16 03 17, with constellation stick figures overlaid. Locate shows the whole constellation with the target ringed; Field zooms to the close-up. Drag to pan, scroll to zoom, click any star to identify it. Imagery: DSS colour survey via CDS Aladin Lite. Constellation figures © Dominic Ford (GPLv3).

A nearly face-on grand-design spiral, often cited as the most challenging Messier object to observe due to its very low surface brightness spread over a large area. Deep imaging rewards the effort — the two well-defined spiral arms and knotty HII regions are beautiful.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of object is M 74?
M 74 is a galaxy.
Which constellation is M 74 in?
M 74 lies in the constellation Pisces.
How far away is M 74?
The light in this image left M 74 roughly ~32 million years ago, so that is how far back in time you are seeing it.
What are the coordinates of M 74?
M 74 sits at right ascension 01h 36m 50s and declination +16° 03′ 17″ (J2000).
When is the best time to photograph M 74?
M 74 rides highest in the evening sky around October, reaching about 53° above the horizon from around 54°N.
What equipment was used to photograph M 74?
This image of M 74 was captured with ZWO Seestar S50 and ZWO Seestar S50 Camera.
How much exposure time went into this image?
This image of M 74 represents 27m (161 × 10s) of total integration time.