A Perfect Spiral
Explanation:
If not perfect then this
spiral
galaxy is at least one of the most photogenic.
An
island universe of about 100 billion stars,
32 million light-years away toward the constellation Pisces,
M74 presents
a gorgeous
face-on view.
Classified as
an Sc galaxy,
the
grand design of M74's graceful spiral
arms are traced by bright
blue
star clusters and dark
cosmic dust
lanes.
This sharp composite
was constructed from image data recorded by the Hubble Space Telescope's
Advanced Camera for Surveys.
Spanning about 30,000 light-years across the
face of M74, it includes exposures recording emission from
hydrogen atoms, highlighting the reddish glow of the
galaxy's large star-forming regions.
With a lower surface brightness than most galaxies in the
Messier catalog,
M74 is sometimes known as the
Phantom Galaxy.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
