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 M74 


About:
Messier 74 (also known as NGC 628) is a face-on spiral galaxy in the constellation Pisces. It is at a distance of about 32 million light-years away from Earth. The galaxy contains two clearly defined spiral arms and is therefore used as an archetypal example of a Grand Design Spiral Galaxy. The galaxy's low surface brightness makes it the most difficult Messier object for amateur astronomers to observe. However, the relatively large angular size of the galaxy and the galaxy's face-on orientation make it an ideal object for professional astronomers who want to study spiral arm structure and spiral density waves. It is estimated that M74 is home to about 100 billion stars. [Text from Wikipedia]

Optics: GSO RC 10" F8 2000mm - Astrograph Ritchie-Chrétien
Mount: AP Mach1 GTO on Gemini Q-Lock tripod
Camera: ATIK 4000LE with SX USB Filter Wheel
Filters: Baader LRGB 2"
Guiding Systems: SXV-AO-LF Active Optics - SX Lodestar
Dates/Times: 1/2/30/31 October 2011
Location: Pragelato - Turin - Italy
Exposure Details: L:R:G:B => 450:150:90:120 = > (30x15):(15x10):(9x10):(12x10) Color Bin2 [num x minutes]
Cooling Details: -20 °C
Acquisition: Maxim DL/CCD, Perseus
Processing: CCDStack2, PixInsight, PS CS2
Mean FWHM: 1.68 / 2.21 "
SQM-L: 21.13 / 21.31