M74
About this celestial object
M74, the “Phantom Galaxy,” rewards patience—its delicate spiral arms then emerge.
M74 is an almost face‑on spiral with low surface brightness—visually demanding yet photographically rich in thin dust lanes and structure.
At only about 22° altitude, the long integration helped lift the fine arms from the background; the 250‑mm F/5 optics capture its broad surroundings in Pisces.
Image and observation
Catalogue: M 74
Capture date: 2024-09-01
Imaging and processing: Ulrich Schwarz · Vespera Pro