M74
About image
M74 is a spiral galaxy in Pisces constellation, with apparent magnitude 9.4.
Its distance fom Milky Way is 30 million light years, so considering its apparent dimensions of 10.5’x9.5’ its real extension is 92000 light years.
Due to its face-on view it is possible follow the spiral arms from the centre to the dim outer regions.
Several HII regions are visible in the arms: the largest one has a diameter of 600 light years.
(info from Wikipedia/Cambridge Photographic Atlas of Galaxies)
Technical data
Optic GSO RC12 Truss - Aperture 304mm, focal lenght 2432mm, f/8
Mount 10Micron GM2000 HPSII
Camera Moravian G3-16200 with external filter wheel 7 positions, ZWO ASI 2600MM Pro
Filters Astrodon Gen2 E-Serie Tru-Balance 50mm unmounted LRGB, Astrodon Ha 5nm
Guiding system OAG Moravian M68 with guide camera Moravian G1-0301, ZWO OAG-L
Exposure details L 10x600" bin2 -20C + 19x600" bin2 -25C with Moravian 16200 + 29x300" bin3 -15C with ASI 2600MM Pro
R 10x600" bin2 -20C + 5x600" bin2 -25C with Moravian 16200
G 10x600" bin2 -20C + 4x600" bin2 -25C with Moravian 16200
B 10x600" bin2 -20C + 4x600" bin2 -25C with Moravian 16200
Ha 11x600" bin3 -15C with ASI 2600MM Pro
Total integration 16h15'
Acquisition Voyager, PHD2
Processing Pixinsight 1.8, Photoshop CS5, BlurXTerminator, StarXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator
SQM-L 21.26
Location Promiod (Aosta Valley, Italy), own remote observatory
Date 11 August, 10/14 October, 5 November 2021, 17/18 September 2025
© Roberto Marinoni 2019 - All rights reserved