Spiral Galaxy M74 (NGC 628), type Sc, in Pisces

RA 01 : 36.7 (h:m); DEC +15 : 47 (deg:m); Distance 35 million light years;
Visual Brightness 9.4 (mag); Apparent Dimension 10.2x9.5 (arc min)

This conspicuous spiral is a prototype of a grand-design Sc galaxy. It is classified in more detail in De Vaucouleur's scheme as of type SA(s)c, i.e. a barless (therefore "SA") Sc spiral without a ring structure ("s"). Its distance may be about 30 to 40 million light years (R. Brent Tully's Nearby Galaxies Catalog has 32), as it recedes with 793 km/sec. Then its spiral arms are about 1000 light years broad.

Source and more: SEDS

September 20, 2006 22:50 - 23:16 UT. Imaged with LX200 10-inch f/10 telescope with 0.33 Focal Reducer operating at f/4.06 [focal length 1015mm] and Baader Infra Red Blocking Filter. Camera: Vesta Pro SC3a b/w RAW webcam, 26 autoguided exposures of 30 seconds.