Wallpaper author:
Marius Dinga
19 Dec 2025
M74_The Phantom Galaxy
Messier 74 (a.k.a. NGC 628 and Phantom Galaxy) is a large face-on, grand design, spiral galaxy in the constellation Pisces. The galaxy's low surface brightness makes it the most difficult Messier object for amateur astronomers to observe.
Dataset from which the image was processed
M74
20 credit
- Type of target............................................................................................................................Galaxy
- Camera............................................................................................................................FLI Proline PL16803
- Target coordinates............................................................................................................................RA 24.1739 Dec 15.7836
- Hemisphere............................................................................................................................Northern
- Telescope location............................................................................................................................United States of America
- Transient event............................................................................................................................No
- Observed on............................................................................................................................14 Nov 2020 - 13 Dec 2020
Filter | Avg Exp (s) | Total Exposure | Subframes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luminance | 1733 | 8h40m | 18 |
| Red | 800 | 4h | 18 |
| Green | 750 | 3h45m | 18 |
| Blue | 1000 | 5h | 18 |
| Halpha | 1271 | 6h | 17 |