M 74

M 74 (also known as NGC 628) is a spiral galaxy visible in the constellation Pisces. M74 is located 1.3° NE of the star η Piscium. It is one of the most difficult Messier objects to observe: its magnitude of 9.4 makes it invisible to the naked eye and with binoculars; a small telescope allows you to see only the nucleus, which should not be confused with a star. To hope to see the spiral structure of the galaxy, you need a 250mm instrument and good sky conditions.

M74 can be observed from all populated areas of the Earth, thanks to the fact that it is located at very low declinations; therefore there is no particularly privileged hemisphere for its observation, given that the difference is just 15° in height for the pairs of opposite latitudes. While from the northern hemisphere it is an object of autumn skies, from the southern hemisphere it is characteristic of the spring months. The best period for its observation in the evening sky is between October and February.